Opening Assignment Turn in your homework to the front table. If a German submarine were to sink an American transport ship, should America go to war with Germany? Do you believe that America appears weak if they do not go to war after such an attack by German U-boats?

Essential Learning Goals & Learning Targets Essential Learning Goal: The Second World War caused dramatic changes for the citizens of the US and to the US’ position as a world power. Learning Target: I can explain the importance of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in swaying isolationists in support of war against the Axis Powers. I can recognize the speech by President Roosevelt in which he requests Congress declare war on Japan.

The Shooting Starts September 4, German Submarine fires on the USS Greer. September 18, German a U-boat sinks the US merchant ship Pink Star. October 31, German submarine U-552 sinks the USS Reuben James killing over 100 sailors. President Roosevelt said of these incidences that “the shooting has started. And history has recorded who fired the first shot.”

Causes of Japan’s attack The US imposed economic sanctions on Japan, including halting the export of oil, because the Japanese had started invading French and British colonies in Southeast Asia. The Japanese believed that war against the US was inevitable and that they should strike first with a fatal blow to the US Pacific Fleet that would prevent the US from reacting to their aggression. The attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, was timed with an attack on the Philippine Islands and the Philippines invasion began on December 8, 1941 the day after the Pearl Harbor attack.

Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 The United States operated a major naval base at Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. This was the home base for the United States aircraft carrier fleet. The Japanese wanted to sink these as well as the eight US battleships in Pearl. The US had three carriers in the Pacific Fleet in 1941 and all were at sea during the Japanese attack.

Japanese planes prepare for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

View of Pearl Harbor from a Japanese plane.

The USS Shaw exploding after her ammunition magazine took a direct hit.

The battleship USS Arizona exploding.

The battleship USS Arizona

US Losses at Pearl Harbor All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. All but one were later raised, and six of the eight battleships returned to service and fought in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed. 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded.

President Roosevelt’s War Address Listen to the address, take notes about what the President plans to do, and why. Write a half page newspaper article detailing the events at Pearl Harbor and the President’s address asking for war on Japan. Partner with someone sitting next to you, trade articles and read one another’s article, give advice to your partner on how to improve the article. Turn in your article to the front table at the end of class.

COPY YOUR HOMEWORK Chapter 17 Section 1 Read Pages 562 – 567 Answer Main Idea Questions A – C Complete the Skillbuilder #1 -2 page 564 Complete the Skillbuilder #1 -2 page 566 Copy the Terms & Names into your notebook.