Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor Essay

December, 7, 1941 is a day that will always be remembered in American history. At the time, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called that day “a date which will live infamy.” This is the day when the Japanese attacked America at Pearl Harbor. It was a surprise attack that was most definitely a cataclysmic one, when taking into consideration of more than 2,500 lives taken. Because of this attack America got involved in World War II. Japan’s surprise attack was brought on by many factors.
One of the reasons Japan striked was due to crippling the United States since they both would have gone to war in the Pacific Ocean. By disabling the Pacific Fleet, they hoped to cripple the United States. This would also lead to United States submitting and a peace treaty which would benefit Japan. Also, since the United States lacked military power, they could have been an easy target. Tojo, who was the general of the Imperial Japan Army stated to the council ‘’a policy of patience and perseverance was tantamount to self-annihilation’’ This lead him and the councils who agreed upon this statement to attack America. They felt that essentially without war, it would be as though they have self destructed. The deadline passed and this is eventually when they attacked whilst knowing that the army
of America was weak. Japan was on it’s way to emerge as the strongest naval power but America interfered, thus leading to the attack.
Another reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor is because of fuels and goods. The ban imposed by President Roosevelt on the trade operation of Japan which mostly included the export of oil, steel, and scrap metals was a huge factor. This ban made Japan slightly weaker economically and also their merchandising along with martial power. Japan had lost more than 90% of its oil supply. In the nineteenth century, Japan’s economy began to grow and industrialize rapidly. Japan’s oil reserves were only fit to be preserved for three years by controlling territories it would increase economically by seizing oil. Without oil, Japan could not survive a long war and so if they attacked at this point they could a chance in accomplishing their riches. The last reason why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor is because America didn’t overcome the loss and outcome of Word War I and they did not want to involve in another war that can take many lives.
The Japanese thought that their idea of surprise attack was too powerful that would destroy the American navy and all its hopes. They considered the war to be inevitable. Japan was a militaristic dictatorship with a massive army, and wanted to try and negotiate a settlement with America. This would keep the gains in China and other regions. The war they had with China weakened them, and so they went from there. They failed to invade the Dutch East Indies because the majority of US Fleet happened
elsewhere.
This topic is important in the big picture of WWII because it was an entrance in History of America. It opens America’s to the immensely realistic fear of war. It is a date which should be remembered due to the unexpected tragedies. The bombing had left over 2,400 or more Americans killed, and sunk twenty one ships. Before this attack, Americans thought their country to be almost untouchable. After the tragic fell, the Americans knew they could not fled and leave the war, so they would fight and risk their lives. Lessons that should be taken from this event is that preparation is virtue. It is possible for anything to happen, maybe something even worse than the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. In conclusion, the attack on Pearl Harbor was a terrifying an influential historic event in history.