A Brief Look at the Attack on Pearl Harbor

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On December 7, 1941 it was a quiet morning until a few minutes after eight when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began. The attack came “in two waves of terror lasting two long hours, they killed or wounded over 3500 Americans and sunk or badly damaged 18 ships including all 8 battleships of the pacific fleet (“Pearl Harbor History…”).” This was one of few attacks on America made to date. December 7th 1941 will be a date that will be remembered by both nations forever. The United States (U.S.) responded to the attack by declaring war on Japan. Many wonder why Japan attacked the United States in the first place. There was a lot that led up to the attack, the attack itself and, seventy years after the attack.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the greatest naval operations in history and some people still want to know why Japan attacked. One reason is “the U.S. placed an embargo on Japan by prohibiting exports of steel, scrap iron and aviation fuel to Japan, due to Japan’s takeover of northern French Indonesia (“Pearl Harbor History…”).” In addition, some believed war was unavoidable between the U.S. and Japan. For example “Isoruko Yamamoto, commander of Japan’s combined fleets, believed war was inevitable between his nation and the U.S. (Lee).” Yamamoto was determined to cripple the American navy in order to succeed in defeating the enemies of Japan. He decided a sneak attack would be most effective in destroying primary targets. Set travel patterns of ships and aircraft at Pearl Harbor made a surprise air strike the most likely and dangerous form of attack by the Japanese.
America knew an attack was on the way; however, they did not know Japan’s intended target. The U.S. was caught by surprise when Japanese aircrafts b...

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...this year will mark the 72nd anniversary of the attack. From before the attack and to what led up to it, to the attack itself, to 72 years after December 7th 1941 truly is a day that will live in infamy.

Works Cited
"Pearl Harbor History: Why Did Japan Attack? Eyewitness Accounts, Casualty List, Background." Official
Site of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. N.p., 20 october 2013. Web. 15 October 2013. .

("Pearl Harbor History: Why Did Japan Attack? Eyewitness Accounts, Casualty List, Background")

Lee, R. A. "Remembering Pearl Harbor." USA Today (Farmingdale) 1991: 80-5. SIRS Issues Researcher.

Web. 10 Sep. 2013.

Potts, Mark. "Welcome to the Official Site of the Attack on Pearl Harbor." Pearl Harbor History:Why Did Japan Attack? Eyewitness Accounts, Casualty List, Background. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.

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