Identification and evaluation of sources: Between 1930 and 1941, Japan sought to increase their power through imperialism; it caused threat to the United States when Japan started expanding to Manchuria and French Indochina. The United States tried to stop Japan, fearing from the threat that might happen, when America's president Franklin Roosevelt banned Japan from getting natural materials and supplies like Oil, rubber and rice. This action led to Japan to prepare for war. In July 1941, Japanese admiral Yamamoto suggested an attack on Pearl Harbor. The reason they selected Pearl Harbor because of their vision, they saw Pearl Harbor as an easy target like Manchuria, also the United States naval fleet was in Pearl Harbor, which …show more content…
Japan had great victories, until the war had settled because of the assistance that the Chinese had from United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union and they were threatening economic sanctions against Tokyo. Japan needed natural resources because their industrial economy depends on imported materials, especially oil. Cause of Germany’s invasion in Europe, Japan had a great opportunity to take advantage of the natural resources in Southeast Asia. They started by Manchuria, until they found another opportunity to invade French Indochina when France was capitulated in June 1940. However, the United States wanted to stop Japanese expansion by freezing Japan’s assets in the United States. Which led to Japan to look for oil that was outside of United States control. After looking, Japan wanted to invade the Dutch East Indies, because of its rich oil. To respond to the invasion, the United States moved the Pacific Fleet from San Diego to Hawaii. Which left Japan week in front of United States military, but it was not a problem because the U.S and Japan were not in war. However, until Roosevelt warned Japan to stop their expansion or the U.S will make another moves. Japan realized that oil was their war machine and without oil the will come to an end by the end of 1941. During summer 1941, the United States stopped oil exports to japan, which kept Japan in pressure. Japan wanted to attack Pearl Harbor to disable the Pacific Fleet, to avoid the United States from taking any powerful movements in the Pacific for some time so they can secure the oil in the Dutch East Indies. Also, Japan thought the war would be over before United States
Had Japan focused beyond the fleet and targeted the crucial shore facilities and oil reserves, it could have inflicted far greater and more lasting damage. Japan gave America the chance to rebuild its fleet and re-enter the fight with the brand new kit. Rather than crushing Americans morale as planned, the attack united the country behind Roosevelt and behind war. Americans were incensed by Japan's failure to declare war until later that day: the sneak attack fueled Americans determination to fight on, even in the face of setbacks of early 1942. According to source C, the plan to cripple the U.S fleet failed - although a number of battleships and other vessels and facilities were severely damaged.
President Roosevelt stopped U.S. shipments of steel and oil to Japan. Roosevelt saw Japan as a threat; and he restricted Japan from consuming oil in the fall of November 1941. Roosevelt hoped that this economic pressure would force Japan to end its military expansion in East Asia, and Japan wanted Asia to themselves. Japan did something that the United States was not expecting for Japan to do; they attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Japan wanted to take over southeast Asia, but countries such as the United Sates, Great Britain, and Holland tried to impede them. Consequently, to fight back, Japan declared war on these countries. But Japan had not formally gone to war with the United States before they attacked Pearl Harbor. A day later, the United Sates joined World War 2. February 19, 1942, two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, signed Executive Order 9066.
In 1938, Japan announced its plan to constitute a new order in East Asia (Doc C). In this new order, the rule of the Japanese emperor would be drawn-out over Earth. This was a driving force for Japan’s invasion because of their ambitious desires. By damaging an American naval base, it gave Japan the ability to also occupy China and Manchuria leading to a rise in their military power (Doc C). Japan’s presence in more of East Asia brought them one step closer to expanding their authority.
Along with the affair of Manchuria and the Eastern coastline of China, the Japanese gained control of French Indochina in 1940 (Document B). Many countries took notice of Japan’s expansion of territory and attempted to become allies with
Why did Japan attack Pearl harbor? Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because of U.S. Navy expansion, the U.S. embargo on Japan, and Japan’s ambition to create a new world order.
entered the war for personal gain and national power. On the other hand, Schweikart and Allen attribute it to the Pearl Harbor attack. Zinn reports, “Japan’s strike against the American naval base climaxed a long series of mutually antagonistic acts,” such as the threat against U.S. markets by Japan’s invasion of China, and the U.S.’s embargo on certain products (Zinn 410-411). He also says the U.S. declared war on Japan not because of the threat to American citizens, but because of “the Japanese attack on a link in the American Pacific Empire” (Zinn 410). Schweikart and Allen agree hostilities started long before the attack and led to it.
They achieved those things mainly through expansion. In 1932, Japan established Manchuria, a puppet state located southeast of the Soviet Union. Later, in 1937 Japan began its occupation of China.(Document B) The Japanese were wary to bomb Pearl Harbor although they had planned it for a year, 80% of Japan’s oil came from the U.S. (Document D) On August 1, 1941, the U.S. cut off all trade of oil, steel, and scrap iron with Japan.
In a time where the United States of America was going through an economic crisis, some countries were invading other defenseless nations. It was the beginning of World War II, with Germany, Italy, and Japan in the Axis alliance and France with Russia and the United Kingdom in the Allies alliance. The United States decided it was best to be isolated from other world affairs and “Put America First!” As a result in December 7, 1941, Japanese planes and submarines bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; a naval harbor set up in the Pacific Coast. This attack caused America’s entrance into the war.
Rahul Bagga Mr.Campbell US History, Period 0 16 December 2015 Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? One day that will always be remembered by America is the date of December 7, 1941, which changed American history forever. December 7, 1941 was the day the Japanese warplanes attacked Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) which stationed many of American ships and airfields. Immediately after the bombings, United States President Franklin Roosevelt declared war on Japan, leading to a direct involvement into World War ll. Japan had many reason to do so but Japan attacked Pearl harbor for three reasons which were that they had a plan for a new world order, United States were expanding their number of naval ships rapidly, and an oil embargo was placed upon Japan
One reason was the fact that the United States began an embargo on Japan, ending the trade of Japanese weapons. This limited Japan from obtaining more resources in their expansion. Another reason was that Japan needed oil to help keep expanding and raise their economy. The U.S. Navy was in their way, by controlling the Philippines, which is why they thought they needed to get rid of them. Lastly, both Japan and the U.S. did not agree on each other’s ways of running government.
The military action was initiated by Japan, which after dominating Asian territories, threatened to snatch organic materials used by Western industries . The United States (Japan’s main oil supplier) responded to the action of Japan by refusing to sell them oil. The heated conflict resulted later, in an attack on Pearl Harbor. As the United States was involved in the war, both people as well as the military industry became essential to the American economy. Artillery, ships, and weapons were needed as quickly as possible.
Japan’s disastrous actions before, during, and up to its historic surrender on 22nd September 1945, at the end of World War II, it is evident Japan bore responsibility for its downfall. Japan was responsible for its downfall through its aggressive territorial expansion due to a lack of resources and its extreme nationalist and militaristic values, making them disregard what they were doing as wrong. The pivotal event causing their downfall was the bombing of Pearl Harbor causing America to enter the war which led to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and its inevitable surrender. The road to Japan’s downfall can be traced to their aggressive territorial expansion which led to an increase in tension with the US.
On December 7, 1941, Japan inflicted a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor. What lead to this attack was the growing tension between the U.S. and Japan throughout the years. In 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria in order to continue its colonial expansion and strengthen its political standing in the world. Hoping to cease this threatening expansion, in July 1940, the U.S. decided to respond with economic sanctions and trade embargoes. This action brought Japan to a critical situation as it was greatly relied on imports from America.
The United States and Japan fought in World War II during 1941 to 1945. Japan planned to expand their land and gain resources- which led them to invade China whom was an ally of the U.S. In result, the United States cut off the supply of oil to Japan. On December 7th 1941, Japan’s air force did a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor because that is where their military base is located.