Pearl Harbor

“Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
These opening words of President Roosevelt on December 8, 1941 have stuck with me since the first day I heard them. I have always been intrigued about the attack on Pearl Harbor. I feel that the attack should never have happened. In this paper I intend to prove that the actions of the U.S. government provoked and did not stop the attack on Pearl Harbor.
First, I would like to talk about the reactions of the attack. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was completely well thought out. Japanese aircraft carriers launched plane from 274 miles away from Pearl Harbor. The attacking Japanese planes came in two separate waves. The first set of bombers hit at 7:53 AM. The second wave came through at 8:55. By 9:55AM the entire attack was over leaving behind 2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes and 8 damaged or destroyed battleships. In a sense they crippled the entire Pacific Fleet of the United States. The following day, December 8th, President Roosevelt went to congress and asked permission to declare war on the Empire of Japan. Permission was grant

In conclusion, do I feel that the attack on Pearl Harbor should be blamed on President Franklin D. Roosevelt? The answer is yes. I do feel that FDR used Pearl Harbor as a way to get into WWII without angering Americans. However, the way in which he did it I feel was wrong. He took the lives of 2,405 men in doing so. He knew this attack was coming when months before he tried to negotiated with the Japanese but they didn’t back down. FDR knew that the attack was coming when many warnings were sent about possible attacks. He knew that by cutting off the Japanese oil supply would anger and provoke them to retaliate against the U.S. Then depth charging and sinking an un-identified submarine at the entrance of Pearl Harbor a few hours prior to the attack with out warning to the commanders of the naval ship docked in Pearl Harbor. Then not bothering to radio to the unidentified planes flying towards Pearl Harbor knowing that hostilities were high and threats of violence and war were coming for the Empire of Japan. Yet, President Roosevelt and the U.S. government did nothing until one hour after the attack and telegram was received stating possible attack is evident. I guess it’s better late then never but so many actions could have been taken to prevent this tragedy from happening and just weren’t. The only thing I can think of is that the U.S. and President want the attack so they would have just cause to enter WWII.

granted and FDR signed the declaration of war. On December 9th Japan, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. By declaring war on the Japan the U.S. had, in fact, just joined World War II.

The Attack on Pearl Harbor was so important because of what it did to the whole American way of thinking of war especially WWII. You have to realize that first Pearl Harbor happened on a Sunday. Next you have to realize that Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. The sailors were ready for a long weekend off. They have been out at sea for months, and now is their time to relax. Some weren’t fully awa