In the late months of 1941, World War II was pretty much in full swing. However, the United States was still sitting idly by, watching from a distance. Franklin Roosevelt did not want to get our troops involved in a war we weren't apart of.
We were sending supplies to several countries that were opposing the axis powers, like China. Japan was angry at our actions because China was Japan's major focus in the war. In November of 1941, Japan sent a peace mission to the U.S. The conditions for the peace were stop aiding China and start giving Japan oil.
A month before the "peace mission" took place, a new Prime Minister took control, Hideki Tojo. He was a former General in the Japanese armed forces. While the meeting was taking place he gave the order to prepare for an attack on the United States, even after he told former Prime Minister Hirohito, that he would make one last attempt to come to a peaceful solution. .
Unknown to Japan, the United States had broken the Japanese Secret communication codes. The United States was now aware that an attack was coming, but they did not know where or when. In the later part of November, President Roosevelt sent out warnings to several places, including Pearl Harbor, to prepare for attack. It was also decided that the Japanese should make the first move. So the U.S. had to wait.
The peace talks carried on, however, and late on December 6, 1941, the President received a decoded message from Japan saying for the ambassador to Japan should reject all proposals. "This means war" Roosevelt said to this.
Early the next morning, Japanese subs were being reported in different spots around Pearl and one was believed to be sunk. Not long after that, 180 Japanese planes began their attack on Pearl Harbor.
It consisted of two waves launching from six carriers, the first of which arriving around 7:55 a.m. and the second an hour later. The main goal of the attack was to destroy the U.
