December 7 marks the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the day in 1941 when hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii. What brought around this attack, and what came as a result of this day in American history? Pearl Harbor is a topic commonly studied in history classes, but it’s important to remember the many lives lost that day and the impact it had on Americans everywhere.
Even though the attack itself was a surprise for America, it seemed inevitable since Japan and the United States had been pushing towards war for many years before. Japan was attempting to solve their economic and demographic problems by expanding its territory and taking over its neighbor’s land and import market. In this way, in 1937, Japan declared war on China. In response to this declaration, the United States used economic sanctions and trade embargoes, hoping that no access to money, goods, and supplies would cause Japan to forfeit its expansionism. However, the sanctions only made Japan more determined, and consequentially, neither side would budge in negotiations. No one doubted that war was inevitable, but no one could expect what would occur.
Because Japan and Hawaii were roughly 4,000 miles apart, it was inconceivable that Japan would start the war with an attack on American territory. Officials believed that the attack would most likely occur on any of the nearby European colonies in the South Pacific. That being said, American military leaders were not expecting or adequately prepared for an attack. As a result, the naval facilities at Pearl Harbor were undefended. Pearl Harbor contained the entire Pacific Fleet, and hundreds of airplanes were located in the airfields. The target was irresistible, especially since no one expected it.
On December 7, the Japanese launched their attack, with a simple plan to destroy the Pacific Fleet. Total destruction would limit American ability to fight back Japanese armed forces spreading across the South Pacific. At 8:00 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bombs and bullets hit the vessels below. At 8:10 a.m., a 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona. The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men inside. Torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater. By the time the attack was over, every battleship in Pearl Harbor–USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada–had sustained significant damage.
When the attack was over, 18 American ships and nearly 300 airplanes were either crippled or destroyed. Labeled “a date which will live in infamy,” the attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in almost 2,500 men killed and another 1,000 wounded. However, the Japanese had failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. Because aircraft carriers were the most important naval vessel at the time, and because all of the Pacific Fleet’s carriers were away from the base at the time of the attack, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack. On December 8, President Roosevelt addressed the American people saying “the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked.” He went on to say, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.”
Though the Japanese had wanted to force the United States to lift their economic sanction, they instead pushed the United States into the global conflict. On December 8, Congress approved Roosevelt’s declaration of war. Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy declared war against the United States. For the second time, Congress reciprocated. More than two years after the start of the conflict, the United States had entered World War II.
