1. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941
“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy”
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor

2. Economic Depression Hits Japan
Japanese industries had to import nearly all of the resources they needed to
produce goods.
During the 1920’s Japan
did not earn enough money from its exports to pay for its imports, which limited economic growth.
When the depression struck, other countries raised their tariffs. This made the situation even worse.

3. Militarists Take Control of Japan
Japanese military leaders
argued that seizing territory was the only way Japan could get the resources it needed.
In 1931, the Japanese army invaded Manchuria, a resource-rich region of northern China.
When the Japanese prime minister tried to stop the war by negotiating with China, officers assassinated him. From that point forward, the military controlled Japan.
Hideki Tojo

4. In 1937, Japan invaded China. By 1941, much of the Chinese coast is controlled by Japan. Roosevelt responded by sending lend-lease aid to China. By July 1941, Japan has invaded French Indochina, posing a direct threat to the British Empire.

5. America Embargoes Japan
In response to Japanese
aggression in Asia, President
Roosevelt
A. froze all Japanese assets in
the United States
B. reduced the amount of
oil shipped to Japan
(including airplane fuel
and scrap iron)
C. sent General Douglas
MacArthur to the
Philippines to build up
American defenses there.
Roosevelt made it clear that the oil embargo would end only if Japan withdrew from Indochina and made peace with China.

6. Peace or War? While the Japanese government appeared to
be negotiating for peace in
good faith with the U.S.,
they were secretly
preparing for war.
Japanese diplomats Nomura and Kurusa

7. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked
Pearl Harbor.
Film Clip on Japanese Attack

8. Japanese Attack Route
Nov. 26, 1941
Dec. 4, 1941
Dec. 7, 1941

9. Japanese Aircraft Attack Route
The Japanese fleet was 230 miles north of the island of O'ahu at 6:00 a.m. on December 7, Six aircraft carriers launched the first wave of 184 planes towards O'ahu. These planes began attacking Pearl Harbor shortly thereafter. At about the same time, attacks occurred at Kaneohe, Hickam, Bellows, and Wheeler airfields. At 7:05 a.m., a second wave of 167 bombers were launched.

11. Japanese Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto*
Japanese Fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
*All U.S. ships, except the USS Arizona, the USS Utah, and the USS Oklahoma, were salvaged and later saw action.

13. USS Arizona Memorial