Pearl Harbor Japan’s Attack on US Military Base

In 1931, the Japanese Army attacked Chinese troops in Manchuria This was an attempt by the Japanese Empire to eventually gain all of East Asia. The Japanese wanted to compete in a struggle for power with the United States, the Soviet Union, and many of European countries that had goals to expand their empires into Asia. The invasion of Manchuria attempted to create a strong empire, which could eventual compete with these "world powers “.

US President F.D. Roosevelt knew the war wasn’t going well for the allies, but Americans supported their “isolationist” approach.

In order to enter the war, he needed a reason. During this time, the U.S. supplied many natural resources to Japan (iron, steel, military equipment). General Hideki Tojo – Leader of Japan Allied with the Axis Powers – Germany and Italy (The Enemies)

FDR cut off all shipments to Japan to slow them down (because Japan invades part of China). Japan threatens to attack if the shipments did not continue. Japan decided to attack Pearl Harbor, the U.S. navy base located in Hawaii. This would then allow them to take over all surrounding countries without U.S. involvement in the Pacific.

On Dec 7, 1941, Japan attached by air using 360 planes in a blitzkrieg style Americans killed, 1200 injured, 3 destroyers sunk and all planes destroyed.