Persuasive Speech After Pearl Harbor

670 Words2 Pages

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Japanese Navy Air Service against the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii territory, in the morning of December 7th, 1941. The attack of Pearl Harbor was significant because it was a day that ultimately changed history by causing americans to join together in war effort. Just before eight in the morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended the base and managed to destroy nearly twenty American vessels, 8 enormous battleships, and over 300 airplanes (Zimm). This battle lead the United States entry into World War II. The U.S. was particularly unhappy with Japan’s belligerent attitude towards China. Japan’s government thought to believe that by taking over the neighbor’s …show more content…

The attack ensured America’s entrance into the war. Pearl Harbor made Americans passionate about the war and provoked a joint effort by all, at home and overseas. Pearl Harbor infuriated Americans and motivated an undivided decision to enter into World War II. On Dec. 8, 1941, the United States joined the Allied Powers (****). Only two weeks after Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt, intent on bolstering America's battered morale, summoned his armed forces commanders to the White House to demand a bombing raid on Japan as soon as possible. President FDR made a last minute edit to his speech, changing “a day that will live on in world history” to “a day that will live in infamy” (****). Winston Churchill later recalled his reaction to the bombing of Pearl Harbor “In all the war I never received a more direct shock. As I turned over and twisted in bed the full horror of the news sank in upon me. There were no British or American capital ships in the Indian Ocean or the Pacific except the American survivors of Pearl Harbor who were hastening back to California. Over this vast expanse of waters Japan was supreme and we everywhere were weak and naked.” …show more content…

On April 18, 1942 Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle led 16 bombers off the USS Hornet in a historic raid on Japan. But the Japanese had failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessel: Aircraft carriers were, and as it happened, all of the Pacific Fleet’s carriers were away from the base on December 7. Where some had returned to the mainland and others were delivering planes to troops on Midway and Wake Islands. Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault had left the base’s most vital onshore facilities—oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks—intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the

Show More
Related

  • Reasons for the Attack on Pearl Harbor

    1675 Words  | 4 Pages

    December 7th, 1941 -. This was the date of one of the most important attacks on the United States in the history of America. This was the date of the Japanese attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor was the last straw that led to the United States joining World War II as part of the Allied Power. The bombing was in reaction to many economic sanctions that were placed on Japan, so the bombing was not just to make the United States mad.

    Read More

  • Atomic Bomb Justified Dbq

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Japanese government believed that the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbor’s territory and take over its import market, mostly pointed at China. To put an end on that the United States put economic sanctions and trade embargoes. We believed that if we cut off their resources and their source of federal income than they would have no choice but to pull back and surrender. But the

    Read More

  • Day of Infamy Speech by President Roosevelt

    605 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, the attack of Japan on the United States, Pearl Harbor, led to great property destruction and even loss of lives. Japan had earlier on deceived the United States of the peace negations. Japanese Ambassadors later termed the negotiation as useless, making them attack the United States. The unexpected attack led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to ask the Congress to declare war on Japan.

    Read More

  • Pearl Harbor Dbq Essay

    626 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Battle of Pearl Harbor was one of the most atrocious events that happened in U.S. history. On December 7, 1941, Japan made a surprise aerial attack on the United States naval base and airfields at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More than two thousand Americans died and a thousand two hundred were wounded. Eighteen ships were badly damaged, including five battleships. The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt with the support of the Congress, declared war on Japan.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast 9/11 And Pearl Harbor

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pearl harbor was an attack led by the Japanese kamikaze. This event took place in Honolulu, Hawaii at approximately 8:00 am. Secretary Frank Knox announced the attack on pearl harbor

    Read More

  • Should We Have Dropped the Atomic Bomb?

    1528 Words  | 4 Pages

    General Hideki Tojo was the Premiere of Japan. He and other Japanese leaders did not like the fact that Americans were sending war supplies to China and other countries in Asia. A surprise attack was ordered by Japan on December 7, 1941. The target was the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 360 planes bombed the naval base killing about 3,000 people and destroying many warships, aircraft carriers, and submarines. This was a catalyst that brought the United States into World War II.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Midway

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    On December 7th 1941, Japanese Planes and submarines attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor. This event singlehandedly brought the U.S from its then neutral stance in World War Two to a fighting member of the “Allied Powers.” Pearl Harbor was the first of a long series of confrontations between the U.S and the Japanese in an effort to gain control of the Pacific. Unlike the “War in Europe” the Pacific strategy was dominated by naval and aerial battles, with the occasional land-based “Island Hopping” Campaign. As such, one of the most important factors in the war in the pacific was Fleet Size, the more ships a country could send to war, the better. Pearl Harbor was the Japanese’s way of trying to deal with the massive U.S Pacific fleet. However, Pearl Harbor was not the turning point of the war. After December 7th the United States began work on numerous technological developments which would ultimately help them in one of the most important battles of WWII, the largest naval confrontation of the war, The Battle of Midway. The battle, which took place from June 4th to June 7th , 1942 is widely considered the turning point of the Pacific Theater (James & Wells). Through the Post-Pearl Harbor desire for “Revenge” and various technological advantages including code breaking and radar, the U.S were able to outsmart the Japanese at Midway and ultimately win the battle, eventually leading to a victory in the Pacific.

    Read More

  • Informative Essay On Pearl Harbor

    598 Words  | 2 Pages

    The attack on pearl harbor . It was the most dramatic effect of the World War II for the UNITED STATES . The pearl harbor attack gave the Japanese the advantage of the war . They attacked out American fleet at Pearl Harbor . This made UNITED STATES very angry at Japan . Here are some facts about the Pearl Harbor attack . 18 ships were destroyed at Pearl Harbor . Around 2,400 Americans were killed . The Japanese forces were 6 carriers with 400 aircraft .

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Pearl Harbor

    793 Words  | 2 Pages

    It’s a beautiful sunny morning, on a tropical island that everyone would love to take a vacation at. It’s approximately 6:00 am, December 7, 1941, when a first group of 181 kamikaze planes attacked; targeting key naval bases stationed at Hawaii; a sustained crippling of U.S. naval forces for about 6 months. The death toll was 2,500. Out of the 9 battleships, 8 were heavily damaged by the assault on Pearl Harbor and out of the 8, three were unrepairable, USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, and the USS Utah. 160 aircrafts were put out of commission, and nearly 130 were heavily damaged. This was the first incident in which there was an act of war, committed on U.S. soil, outside of the American Revolution and the Civil War. The world was at war, and the U.S. remained neutral until now. Before the attack, the U.S. was in great debate whether to enter the war or to stay out of it. The act of war forced the U.S. into the War and triggered a controversial debate in whether to retaliate against Japan with the use of nuclear arms.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Pearl Harbor

    1690 Words  | 4 Pages

    The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the biggest offenses on the United States of America and was the trigger for the United States to jump into War World II. The United States had been in a period of isolation for the duration of the war up until the point of the attack. The Japanese had been making advances in the Pacific which was making the Roosevelt administration very uncomfortable. On the day of the attack more than just the harbor was attacked, from air fields to bases the island of Oahu was busted up. Franklin D. Roosevelt had been campaigning isolation and staying out of the war for good, but some historians and a large number of Americans believe that he knew about the attack. The majority of Americans were very angry with Japanese

    Read More

  • Attack Pearl Harbor Essay

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Attack on Pearl Harbor was a shocking blow to the United States that forced the U.S. into World War II. The United States goal was to stay isolated from foreign affairs, but Pearl Harbor changed all that, forcing them to get involved in foreign affairs. A young, power hungry United States wanted to control Southeast Asia, angering Japan along the way. The reason the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor was the results of decades of tension starting back in 1899 with arguments over the United States Open Door Policy; both countries desired control over the Pacific and East Asia, which made war unavoidable.

    Read More

  • The Battle of Midway

    1931 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 the United States officially entered World War Two. The Japanese government later learned later that this single event sets off an explosion that subsequently caused the United States to attack the Midway Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pearl Harbor was one of the United States largest naval bases and the largest in the Pacific Ocean. This attack ceased all trade with Japan and officially added Japan as one of the US enemies. With a new world war started it created new concerns for the army. “World War II introduced a whole new set of problems in naval tactics” (Smith, 1). The main change driving these changes was the fact that aircraft carriers became more prevalent and common in every major countries naval force. Japan was able to pull off the Pearl Harbor attack as a result of aircraft carriers to launch their airplanes. As a result of the battles leading up to the Battle of Midway and conflicts with Japan this created a lot larger of an impact on WWII as a whole and to boost unity in America leading to a more prosperous period of history following the war.

    Read More

  • Informative Essay On Pearl Harbor

    2076 Words  | 5 Pages

    At almost eight o’clock in the morning in the island of Oahu, Hawaii the day of Infamy began. December 7th, 1941 was one of the most devastating attacks on American soil. The day of Infamy, or more commonly known as Pearl Harbor, was an attack on American soil from the Imperial Army. This attack was the final burst of the tension that had been built up between the United States and Japan. To understand the tragic attack it is important to understand the events leading up to it. The United States unrest with Japan started in 1937 through the invasion of Manchuria which began the Second Sino-Japanese War. Japan launched a full scale invasion of the Republic of China. The tension between Franklin D Roosevelt and Japan was initiated with

    Read More

  • Process Essay: Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?

    514 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7th, 1941 at approximately 7:55 am by the Japanese. The day after Pearl Harbor was bombed President Roosevelt spoke the words, “ a date which will live in infamy” he was discussing the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed. Around the world during this time, people were taking in the impacts of WWll. Japan also allied with Italy and Germany, all three countries were greedy for expansion, but Japan wanted oil as well, and the American Naval fleet was in the way. Japan attacked Pearl harbor because they felt that the Americans were standing in the way of their treasures and world expansion.

    Read More

  • The Manchurian Crisis

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Manchurian incident was a turning point in Japanese history in which it abandoned its somewhat general policy of cooperation and peace and instead chose to pursue their personal interests in Asia (S,191). The Japanese interest in China was evident even before its invasion in 1931. In both the Sino Japanese war from 1894 to 1905 as well as the Russo-Japanese War from 1904 to 1905 Japan secured specific locations in Manchuria and other areas in China (U,351). Overall, the consensus for the extensive needs of the empire ultimately drove its policy making until the end of World War 2. To take control of what they believed to be the most mineral rich section of China in which they controlled expansive holdings in such as the South Manchurian Railroad, officers part of the Kwantung Army that were stationed there hatched a plan that would become to be known as the Manchurian Crisis. On September 18th 1931, Japanese soldiers located at the South Manchurian Railroad set off an explosive that they blamed on China (launching both nations into hostile relations for years to come.?? (P,115)) The Japanese invaded Japanese Invaded Chinese controlled Manchuria in 1931 because they wanted to accommodate the rising of the Japanese population, obtain more natural resources, and to stimulate their nearly collapsed economy.

    Read More

More about Persuasive Speech After Pearl Harbor

Open Document