“Remembering Pearl Harbor” Dijon B. Smith HIS-122-40312 Jodi Fissel August 25, 2013 December 7, 1914 was by far one of the most significant days in World War II. On that very day the United States was dragged into the fight with Japan. Slightly before dawn, Japanese aircraft carriers discharged their destructive cargo on the United States Pacific Fleet better known as Pearl Harbor. This surprise attack was bent on a mission to destroy and wipe out the Naval Base. Some even argue depending on opposing viewpoints, that this unforeseen attack was either a brilliant maneuver of courageous strategy, or a deception by a allegedly friendly power. This attack that took place upon Pearl Harbor had extremely crippled the …show more content…
Some argued whether or not if President Roosevelt’s administration had received any warning from Japan, and whether the United States had provoked Japan to attack Pearl Harbor. One of those known for challenging Pearl Harbor’s official version was Charles A. Beard. Who stated in his book “President Roosevelt and the Coming of the War” that the United States forced Japan to attack, by intentionally cutting off Japan’s entry to raw materials needed for their military forces. Which the U.S knew that Japan would have no choice but to attack the southwest pacific, and take supplies that they need by force. Some also argued that the administration had cracked Japanese code, and had to of known ahead of time of Japan’s attack and that Roosevelt deliberately maneuvered the U.S into war with …show more content…
Which then the U.S was able to concentrate more on the Pacific War. The United States had then called for the surrender of Japan in the Potsdam Declaration on 26 July, threatening Japan of complete destruction. Japanese government ignored the United States request, and America did just as they promised. American airmen dropped an atomic boom in which they referred to as “Little Boy” on the city of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. “Little Boy” killed approximately 90,000-166,000 people in Hiroshima. On August 9, America dropped another atomic boom referred to as “Fat Man” over Nagasaki, Japan. “Fat Man” killed 60,000-80,000 people with half of the casualties occurring on that very day of the bombings in each city. On 15 August, six days after the bombing of Japan announced its surrender to the Allies, signing the Instrument of Surrender on 2 September, ending World War
“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941- a date which will live in infamy- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan” (1). These are the words Franklin Delano Roosevelt chose to begin his Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. FDR’s speech was a call to arms, and in his speech he expressed outrage towards Japan and confidence in its inevitable triumph. The speech was a request to declare war against Japan and to bring the United States into World War II. FDR’s speech was successful in bringing the United States into World War II.
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. It led United States’ official involvement in World War II. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because of a deteriorating relationship with the U. S. The “New World Order”, expansion and resources, and economic sanctions were factors that conducted to another disaster on the Second World War.
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the most atrocious attacks to have ever happened on American soil, starting with disagreement on the Potsdam declaration. Japan’s greed for more land and industrial materials led the Japanese to make a plan to keep the United States out of the war, which consisted the use of kamikaze pilots and bombs to destroy our aircraft carriers and boats in an attempt to control the Pacific. While leaving the drowning, and dead bodies of thousands of American seamen and battleships at the bottom of the sea, seemed to be a good idea to the Japanese; America joined World War II and introduced the first nuclear weapons as reprisal for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Had the Japanese agreed to an unconditional surrender and end to militarism during the agreement on the Potsdam declaration, the introduction to nuclear weapons and the death count wouldn’t have been so high and devastating on both the American and Japanese sides.
December 7, 1941 was a day of great tragedy. At 07:48 in the morning the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States at the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii. This attacked caused the destruction of seventeen ships and one hundred and eighty eight aircraft as well as killing two thousand four hundred and three Americans. The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt took to the microphone to address congress and the American people. This speech by President Roosevelt was effective in convincing congress to declare war on Japan by using ethos, pathos, and also logos.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor Shapes American History “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy. . .” These famous lines were spoken the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave this speech to the U.S. Congress on December 8, 1941. Many criticized the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, but the decision to attack America was wisely made. The Americans were going to enter the war sooner or later, and on the allies’ side.
“It was very apparent to everyone who had carefully followed the course of events that we would sooner or later have to meet the threat to civilization which these aggressor nations were presenting to the world…and that we would ultimately be left to face the onslaught alone…” are words from then Secretary of War Henry Stimson. America knew she was headed for war, her people though, not directly feeling the effects of the conflicts going on half a world away would not support the loss of American lives for a foreign war. The government knew about the planned attacks on Pearl Harbor, kept the information from the military leaders that needed it the most, and used the tragedy to rally the nation toward war.
December 7th, 1941 was the date of a horrific attack on a United States naval base in a harbor in Hawaii. On that day the harbor was attacked by both the air and sea. As about 350 Japanese aircraft flew over the naval harbor, out of their planes dropped bombs (Pearl Harbor day of infamy, 2013). With the help of Japanese submarines, they both would damage 8 battle ships, with 4 of them sunk in the harbor. On that day about 2,403 Americans were tallied up in the casualties, and over 1,178 navy and civilians were wounded. As people say the bombing of Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack from the Japanese — or was it? Some people believe that the United States provoked the attack on Pearl Harbor so that the U.S. could get into the war and jump-start their economy again, and not only do they believe that the U.S. provoked the attack, but these people also believe that FDR and his administration knew about the attack and just sat back in their chairs and watched the whole event unfold. I would have to agree with the account that the United States provoked Japan into the attack; I would also have to agree that FDR sat back and let it happen.
...had hit him. Before they found out, they were hit again . on August 9 the fat man was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. It had looked as if the enemy was finally ready to surrender. the Hiroshima bombing became and remains one of the most controversial episodes in American history.
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.
On December 7, 1941 Japan launched a surprise attack on a U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii with the possibility of forcing the U.S. to join World War II. About 2,400 Americans were dead, 21 ships had been sunk, and 188 aircrafts were destroyed. On August 6 and 9 of 1945, the U.S. retaliated and dropped two atomic bombs called Fat Man and Little Boy on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The U.S. was not justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Japan because of the locations that were bombed, the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, and the lack of previous bomb testing.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt had convinced Congress to declare war on Japan using a speech he wrote after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt used many key elements to support his argument in his speech. For example, Roosevelt stated that “the attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military force. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.” He uses this piece in his speech to show that the American people are in danger of the Japanese. This statement made his argument stronger because it is Congress' job to protect the people of America. Congress cannot turn away from their duty to protect American lives, therefore, making them want to declare war on Japan.
The United States entered WW II immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The U.S. entry was a major turning point in the war because it brought the strongest industrial strength to the Allied side. The Americans helped the Allies to win the war in Europe with the surrender of Germany on May 7, 1945. However, the war in the Pacific continued. The war with Japan at this point consisted primarily of strategic bombings. America had recently completed an atomic bomb and was considering using this weapon of mass destruction for the first time. The goal was to force the “unconditional surrender” of the Japanese. Roosevelt had used the term “unconditional surrender” in a press conference in 1943 and it had since become a central war aim. Truman and his staff (still feeling bound by FDR’s words) demanded unconditional surrender from the Japanese. Consequently on July 26, 1945 Truman issued an ultimatum to Japan. This ultimatum stated that Japan must accept “unconditional surrender” or suffer “utter devastation of the Japanese Homeland”. This surrender included abdication of the throne by their emperor. Japan was not willing to surrender their dynasty and ignored the ultimatum. On August 6th and August 9th, atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively.
The effects of the atomic bomb might not have been the exact effects that the United States was looking for when they dropped Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively (Grant, 1998). The original desire of the United States government when they dropped Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not, in fact, the one more commonly known: that the two nuclear devices dropped upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki were detonated with the intention of bringing an end to the war with Japan, but instead to intimidate the Soviet Union. The fact of Japan's imminent defeat, the undeniable truth that relations with Russia were deteriorating, and competition for the division of Europe prove this without question. Admittedly, dropping the atomic bomb was a major factor in Japan's decision to accept the terms laid out in the Potsdam agreement, otherwise known as unconditional surrender. The fact must be pointed out, however, that Japan had already been virtually defeated.
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.
Critical Analysis on Pearl Harbor Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, America was very reluctant to become. involved in World War II, and believed that Hitler and his Nazis. party were Europe's problem. But on December 7th 1941, the views of all Americans changed as Admiral Yamamoto and his naval and air forces from the Empire of Japan, awoke the sleeping Island of Hawaii suddenly. and deliberately, with a relentless unprovoked attack on the U.S.A. navel base at Pearl Harbor.