Japanese expansion in East Asia began in 1931 with the invasion of Manchuria and continued in 1937 with a brutal attack on China.

Before 1939, the US was Japan's major supplier of ores and petroleum Before 1939, the US was Japan's major supplier of ores and petroleum. But President Roosevelt shut off American supplies in an effort to force the Japanese to end hostilities against China.

July 1939, FDR decided not to renew the 1911 us/Japanese Treaty of Commerce and Navigation.

July 2, 1940, Congress passed the Export Control Act which gave the president the power to prohibit the exportation of military equipment, munitions, tools and materials if it was necessary for national defense.

On September 27, 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, thus entering the military alliance known as the "Axis Powers."

These two actions effectively eliminated Japan's primary source of oil, scrap metal, and other materials needed for war. This made Japan resentful of the US

The Japanese had long coveted the resource-rich British and Dutch colonies of Southeast Asia, and as the U.S. trade embargo tightened, the Japanese increasingly looked southward for raw materials and strategic resources.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor was the only force capable of challenging Japan's navy, and American bases in the Philippines could threaten lines of communications between the Japanese home islands and the East Indies.

By September 1941, the Japanese had practically completed secret plans for a huge assault against Malaya, the Philippines, and the Netherland's East Indies, to be coordinated with a crushing blow on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.

On December 7, 1941, a Japanese force of some 30 ships included six aircraft carriers with about 430 planes, of which approximately 360 took part in the subsequent attack.

There were 96 vessels, the bulk of the United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor. Eight battleships of the Fleet were there, but the aircraft carriers were all at sea.

Beginning at 6:00 am and ending at 7:15 am, a total of some 360 planes were launched in three waves. These planes rendezvoused to the south and then flew toward Oahu for coordinated attacks.

The Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor and on the airfields of Oahu began at 7:55 am on December 7, 1941 and ended shortly before 10:00 am. Quickly recovering from the initial shock of surprise, the Americans fought back vigorously with antiaircraft fire.

Devastation of the airfields was so quick and thorough that only a few American planes were able to participate in the counterattack. The Japanese were successful in accomplishing their principal mission, which was to cripple the Pacific Fleet.

Japanese images during or shortly after the attack

Aerial view looking over the submarine base in the direction of Ford Island.

October 10 1941. Aerial view looking north over Ford Island, the Battleships are for the most part at sea.

Opening seconds of the attack, Torpedo exploding against Oklahoma Opening seconds of the attack, Torpedo exploding against Oklahoma. The Japanese plane that launched the torpedo can be seen peeling off after making its run. Another can be seen just left of the hammer head crane about to start its attack run.

Opening seconds of the attack, torpedoes exploding into Oklahoma and West Virginia,

Opening seconds of the attack, "Battleship Row" Note after effects of torpedo hits on Oklahoma and West Virginia, Oil can be seen already gushing from the ships. Also Note California (Far Right) has already taken a torpedo hit.

American images during or shortly after the attack.

Destruction of the battleship Arizona, A direct hit to her forward magazine destroyed the forward half of the ship killing over 900 of her crew instantly. The time is 0810, approximately 12 minutes into the attack.

Defenses better organized, a wall of anti aircraft fire greets the Japanese 2nd wave of the attack. Most of the Japanese aircraft losses came during the 2nd wave attack

Curtis on fire after being crashed by Japanese aircraft Curtis on fire after being crashed by Japanese aircraft. The Japanese pilot wounded, or his aircraft fatally hit deliberately crashed his plane into Curtis in a scene that would become much more common in 1944 - 1945, The Kamikaze

"Battleship Row" West Virginia (left foreground) her side tore open by as many as 7 torpedo hits burns, sunken at her berth. Tennessee, relatively undamaged is seen behind West Virginia trapped in her berth by West Virginia on one side and the mooring quays on the other. Tennessee had to keep her screws turning to push away the oil fires coming from the devastated Arizona (right).

Bow on view of Maryland, Oklahoma capsized alongside took 9 torpedoes in less than 15 minutes. Directly behind Maryland the smoke from West Virginia and Arizona.

One of the most published images from December 7 1941 One of the most published images from December 7 1941. Arizona burning out of control at right. West Virginia, decks awash sunken at her berth and burning fiercely Tennessee trapped between the two raging fires.

Overhead view of "Battleship Row" December 10th 1941 Overhead view of "Battleship Row" December 10th 1941. Far left California surrounded by rescue craft trying (unsuccessfully) to keep her from sinking in her berth. Oklahoma overturned with Maryland inboard, West Virginia sunk upright the trapped Tennessee inboard and the shattered hulk of Arizona leaking oil, She still leaks oil today 59 years later.

All together the Japanese sank or severely damaged 18 ships, including the 8 battleships, three light cruisers, and three destroyers. On the airfields the Japanese destroyed 161 American planes and seriously damaged 102.

The Navy and Marine Corps suffered a total of 2,896 casualties of which 2,117 were deaths and 779 wounded. The Army lost 228 killed or died of wounds, and 459 wounded. In addition, at least 57 civilians were killed and nearly as many seriously injured.

The Japanese lost 29 planes over Oahu, one large submarine, and all five of their midget submarines. Their personnel losses were 55 airmen, nine crewmen on the midget submarines, and an unknown number on the large submarines. The Japanese carrier task force sailed away undetected and unscathed.

On Sunday morning December 8, 1941, President Roosevelt gave a stirring 6 minute speech to the country.

Less than an hour after his speech, Congress voted, with only one member dissenting, that a state of war existed between the United States and Japan.

Four Days after Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declared war on the US Four Days after Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declared war on the US. Congress immediately voted unanimously to declare war on Germany and Italy.