When: December 8, 1941
Why: The United States and Japan had been having trouble a while before Pearl Harbor. Japan had thought that the only way to help its economy was to expand into neighboring land, mainly China. Since Japan wanted to help their economy by expanding into China, they declared war on China in 1937. America did not appreciate this and tried to persuade Japan to stop their attack on China by cutting off all trade with Japan. America figured that without the money from them they would have to stop their expansions. Instead it did the opposite. Japan continued to hold their ground and because neither side was budging it seemed to many that war was inevitable.
Where: Naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii
How: Japan planned for a while and wanted to take out the U.S. Pacific Fleet. At around 8 A.M. Japanese planes flew over Pearl Harbor. They dropped bombs and bullets in a harsh and quick attack. At 8:10 A.M the USS Arizona was hit and exploded taking 1,000 men down with it. By the end of the attack the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee, and the USS Nevada had all suffered severe damage. Out of those only the USS Arizona and USS Utah were never able to be salvaged and repaired.
Aftermath: This attack did injure or destroy 18 battleships and 300 aircrafts, kill 2,500 and wound 1,000 more; however, it did not cripple the Pacific Fleet like Japan had hoped it would. This resulted in Americans being outraged and with the ability to fight back. On December 8th Congress approved the declaration of war. 3 days later Germany, Italy, and Japan had all declared war on the United States and again Congress reciprocated.
Why: The United States and Japan had been having trouble a while before Pearl Harbor. Japan had thought that the only way to help its economy was to expand into neighboring land, mainly China. Since Japan wanted to help their economy by expanding into China, they declared war on China in 1937. America did not appreciate this and tried to persuade Japan to stop their attack on China by cutting off all trade with Japan. America figured that without the money from them they would have to stop their expansions. Instead it did the opposite. Japan continued to hold their ground and because neither side was budging it seemed to many that war was inevitable.
Where: Naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii
How: Japan planned for a while and wanted to take out the U.S. Pacific Fleet. At around 8 A.M. Japanese planes flew over Pearl Harbor. They dropped bombs and bullets in a harsh and quick attack. At 8:10 A.M the USS Arizona was hit and exploded taking 1,000 men down with it. By the end of the attack the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee, and the USS Nevada had all suffered severe damage. Out of those only the USS Arizona and USS Utah were never able to be salvaged and repaired.
Aftermath: This attack did injure or destroy 18 battleships and 300 aircrafts, kill 2,500 and wound 1,000 more; however, it did not cripple the Pacific Fleet like Japan had hoped it would. This resulted in Americans being outraged and with the ability to fight back. On December 8th Congress approved the declaration of war. 3 days later Germany, Italy, and Japan had all declared war on the United States and again Congress reciprocated.