Sneak Attack: Pearl Harbor OBJECTIVE: I CAN DESCRIBE WHAT IMPACT THE BOMBING OF PEARL HARBOR HAD ON AMERICA. PREVIEW: DEFINE: KAMIKAZE PROCESS: QUICK NOTES. ON YOUR OWN: KEN BURNS: THE WAR, VIDEO GUIDE.

Election of 1940  Republicans: Wendell Willkie— businessman who thought FDR had not done enough and feared war was looming.  Democrats: FDR chooses to run for a record-breaking third term.  Willkie just could not beat the popularity of FDR!

~Japan Makes Waves~  With Hitler having so many victories in Europe, Hideki Tojo, leader of the Japanese army, saw opportunities to also expand.  Japanese starts to seize colonial lands in Asia.  July 1941 US cuts off trade with Japan—including essentials such as oil.  November 5 th, Tojo orders the navy to prepare to attack the United States.

Where to Attack  US had broken the Japanese secret communication codes—new they planned to attack, but not where.  December 7 th, more than 180 Japanese dive bombers fly into Pearl Harbor.  For 1.5 hours the Japanese planes are barely touched by antiaircraft guns.  In less than 2 hours, 2,403 dead, 1,178 wounded, 21 ships sunk, 200 airplanes destroyed, nearly the entire U.S. Pacific fleet.

“A date that will live in infamy…”  FDR makes famous speech to Congress.  Asks for a declaration of war against Japan.  Germany & Italy return the favor and declare war on the United States.  Most isolationists were now in support of an all-out American effort.  Speech: peeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm peeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm