Why Did Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor

Surprise Attack
Bombs,explosions,horrific screams from the innocent citizens and soldiers of Pearl Harbor will be remembered throughout history. 1941 was the year the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The United States was deep in World War 2 on the European front. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a new front for the US in the war. What lead the Japanese to attacked the US at Pearl Harbor?
On December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese planes and submarines. The Japanese had a plan called operation 2. Two groups of planes and 5 subs sank 21 ships and damaged 159. “The Japanese managed to destroy nearly 20 american naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and more than 300 airplanes.” The US had no idea the attack was coming. That made it difficult to fight back. The battleships did not have the equipment to shoot down the planes.” Devastating surprise attack killed 2,403 and wounded over 1,000.” There were also 65 Japanese killed in the battle.
What were some key reasons why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor?
President Roosevelt imposed a ban on the trade functions of Japan’s export of oil, steel, and scrap iron. “The United States, through oil embargoes, hopes to halt Japan’s advance.” This set back the Japanese economy and the military was affected. America wanted Japan to withdraw from Indochina. Japanese were eager to take control of Asia but the Americans would not allow it. They had two options, fight or take control. Japan also thought Pearl Harbor would be a good location so they could refuel. In 1941 Japan focused on taking south Pacific colonies by eliminating US interest in the region. This leads to an economic embargo by the US against the
Japanese.
The Japanese had a complex naval strategy for the attack on Pearl Harbor. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto insisted on a surprise attack on the US fleet based at Pearl Harbor. Japan had resolved to bring the war to the Pacific by invading Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and other targets.The Japanese were on there way to emerge as the strongest naval power, but America stood in there way. Japanese wanted to eliminate their competitor so they could claim of having the strongest naval power. After being attacked the US decided they had to get involved in WWII. The US declared war on Japan. They had the support of France and Italy. The Doolittle Raid was an air raid by the United States on the Japanese capital Tokyo. The USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania class battleship built for the navy in the mid 1910's. They finish building the USS Arizona on March 16,1914. It was 608” in length.” Approximately three hours later, Japanese planes began a day-long attack on American facilities in the Philippines.”
On December 7, 1941 it was a terrible beginning for the United States, and the beginning of a terrible end for Japan. Many reasons lead to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Trade embargoes, economic hardships, and territorial control were to name just a few. In the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese many americans lost their lives. Japan's quest for power and control won on this day but in the end would become their downfall. “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”