Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor Research Paper

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Why did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor? The attack on December 7th, 1941 was declared “a day that will live in infamy,” by president Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). It was devastating to the naval powers of the United States. By December of 1941, Germany has achieved victory after victory in Europe. The United States, though officially neutral, sends war supplies and munitions to the allied powers of Europe. The Japanese deploy a fleet to attack the US naval installations on the island of Hawaii. The Japanese hope to win the entire war with one attack. However, deep in the hearts of Japanese leadership, they know they could not possibly win. Why did they enter a war they could not win? The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor because they felt that a preemptive strike could end the war much faster, the Japanese hierarchy thought they had the best fighters and navy, and the Japanese economy was being crippled by allied embargoes. The Japanese thought a war with the US was inevitable and they thought that a preemptive strike could end the war much earlier and in their favor (Fallows). The …show more content…

According to Connor Griffith, in 1941, the Naval powers of Japan very much surpassed the powers of the United States (Griffiths). Though this may be true the Japanese did not realize that the American aircraft carriers would be out of the harbor on the day of their attack. The Aircraft carriers were and still are the backbone of the American fleet. Also, many of the American ships that were destroyed were actually needing updating and refinement (Samir). These statements tell how the Japanese honestly could have had a chance during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese attack was also originally planned to be three waves as opposed to two. The last minute change of plans by the Japanese general may have lost World War II for the Japanese

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