The Pearl Harbor Attack and The End of American Isolationism By: Dejah Bush

Background- The Attack Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii that was attacked on December 7, 1941 20 American naval bases damaged, 19 ships were sunk or damaged including eight battleships and more than 300 airplanes 2,471 Americans died and 1,000 people wounded

Why they attacked? Renouncing of the 1911 Japanese-American Commercial Treaty in July 1941 USA demanded withdrawal from China The negotiations became pointless Easy target and the US couldn’t fight back

How they tried to prevent it Japan offered diplomatic concessions Japan demanded that the USA cease aiding the nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek Spent months negotiating

The attack itself Around 8am, many Japanese planes were in the sky directly over Pearl Harbor. The Japanese released bombs and bullets. Around ten minutes later, a 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona. The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. Torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater.

After the Attack The USA declared war on Japan Countries declared war on the United States Other countries started to declare war Pacific Fleet was not destroyed Isolationism ended

Involvement of others All nine independent Central American and Caribbean countries declared war Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico severed ties with the Axis powers After the Pan-American union conference, Argentina and Chile still refused to sever ties Germany wanted to target US, Mexican, and Brazilian vessels

Revenge of the USA By late 1942, the USA began to intercept messages from Berlin and Tokyo Deported three German nationals USA threatened to block Chilean membership in the newly created United Nations

Isolationism A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries Japan promised the USA neutrality before the Pearl Harbor Attack The United States declared neutrality on September 5, 1939

Conclusion Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan in December of 1941 and thousands were killed Other countries got involved and started to declare war USA got revenge Isolationism ended

Work Cited History.com Staff. “Pearl Harbor.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor. Alchin, Linda. “1929-1945: Depression & WW2.” American Isolationism: US History for Kids ***, Siteseen Limited, 9 Jan. 2018, www.american-historama.org/1929-1945- depression-ww2-era/american-isolationism.htm.