A History And Effects Of The Attack On Pearl Harbor

Seventy years on, Pearl Harbor’s attack remains a significant part of America’s culture. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that pushed the US into World War II will be remembered as a barbaric, wicked, and savage act of aggression. It led thousands to their deaths, and saw the sinkings or her prideful symbolic battleships. It will be remembered for this reason and many others. Some of these events are the Revolution, Civil War, Drafting the Constitution, Pearl Harbor, WWII and the Apollo Missions. Pearl Harbor is the most memorable event in American history. One nation emerged from the rubble of Pearl Harbor, a nation that was driven by patriotism. The Second World War ended in victory for this nation, which emerged from it as the single superpower of the globe, militarily and economically. The immediate situation after the attack influenced the course of war and post-war. It was only through the combination of these many factors that America was able to move forward towards global dominance. Some of these factors affected the US military position, such as the fact that the US carriers did not arrive at port in time for the attack. But other factors also influenced the social and political environment. The Japanese attacked but didn’t declare war on America, greatly angering Americans. This combination put America in a position where it could dominate the post-war and war situations. But, America’s rise to superpower status was not solely due to Pearl Harbor’s attack. The attack was crucial, however. The attack was essential because it set the stage for America’s victory in the war. Without Pearl Harbor, post-war Europe and Pacific would have been very different. It is possible that the Allies might have lost the war. The way America entered war was determined by Pearl Harbor’s attack. Therefore, America’s current situation after war is largely due to Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is a key event in America’s history. Along with the Battle of Gettysburg and The Crossing of the Delaware, it has been credited with being a major factor in America’s victory in WWII. However, Pearl Harbor’s place in American history is not because of this. It is remembered as an attack that took America completely by surprise. It was also our entry point into wartime and the only American place attacked by foreigners since 1812. While it has all the above, Pearl Harbor is not to be considered “‘The greatest military-naval disaster in America’s History'” [1] like it often is. It should instead be remembered as a tragic loss that helped the US secure global dominance and launched it into WWII.

To prove that Pearl Harbor didn’t end in a military disaster, one must examine both the military environment before and following the attack. It is crucial that the motive for the attack be clarified and the history behind it. James Bradley is an expert historian on Japan’s Pacific War and Japanese culture. He explains in his book The Imperial Cruise what Japan did and how they got there. The Japanese abandoned their feudal past and changed their whole government and culture to Westernize the Empire. [2]They envisioned a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere to rival the Nazi dream of Greater Germany. Japan’s industrialization and testing of their world power began. In 1931 they invaded Manchuria, China. It then seizes its vast resources and farms, and in 1937 launched a massive attack on the rest. Japan was the only non-white Eastern state that 20th century Western nations wanted to challenge their dominance of the Far East. The US, another dominant power in Pacific, placed an embargo on Japan to stop it from importing oil and other essential resources like rubber. The Japanese determined that the US would not supply them with oil, so they decided to attack the American colonial territories in the Pacific. This would allow them to seize all vital resources. The Pacific War is written by Daniel Marston. To demoralize Americans and scare the US from a war, Yamamoto decided to win the war. After months and months of training, preparation and secret steaming across Pacific islands, a Japanese fleet waited 230 m northwest of Oahu in order to attack Pearl Harbor. [4] Once the motive behind the attack has been established, we can now discuss the attack to show that it was an American victory. This discussion will be possible only if we can clarify certain terms and answers. What is the definition of victory? An ex-Navigator Jim Clonts and Desert Storm veteran, Jim Clonts explains that victory is defined as the achievement of specific objectives. These objectives are what define victory. [5] Without this definition, it is difficult to identify who the victor is. What is the difference between tactical and strategic victories? A tactical victory is the achievement of short-term goals, while a strategy victory is the achievement of long-term goals. This is important for understanding the details of Pearl Harbor and determining who came out in a better place.

Walter Lord was a historian and author in the middle of the 1900’s. He describes the events of the attack with Day of Infamy. On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, at 7:55AM, the Japanese attacked. With a strike force of 353 fighter planes and five small subs, they bombarded the target ships and then torpedoed them. Finally, just before 10:00 AM, they stopped the raid. They destroyed 188 aircraft and sink 18 ships. Approximately 4,000 people were also died and injured. [6]This was undoubtedly a major blow for the US Navy. All eight of the US Pacific Fleet’s battleships were destroyed or severely damaged. Why did Japan target US battleships in the first place? Battleships were known as dreadnoughts during the Great War. They were the principal proponents for power in all world navies. Their assault was so strong that no other battleships could survive it. They were called the “flagships” and served as the command ship for a fleet. It was hard for any nation to lose a battleship, but it was rewarding to see one destroyed. This is why the Japanese attacked the battleships. The US navy’s power and ability to defend itself would be severely diminished.

The Japanese were unable to accomplish all of them. The Pacific Fleet was effectively dead after losing all eight battleships. It was therefore forced to reorganize in San Diego. Although the US was beaten up by Japan’s Admiral Yamamoto, he wanted to stop the war from beginning. Although the US suffered a severe blow, it did not end in peace. In his Day of Infamy speech on December 8, 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (also known as FDR), who was president of the United States (1932-1945), asked Congress to declare War on Japan.

“Yesterday was December 7, 1941. It is a date that will live in infamy. The attack on the United States by the Empire of Japan naval and aerial forces was made suddenly and deliberately. The Japanese government has tried to deceive American by making false statements, hoping for continued peace, and even expressing hope.

The Japanese intended that the US would not give in to their demands. Why would the US remain so stubborn when their only means of asserting power in the Pacific was to be destroyed by the Japanese? The simple answer is that many ships, including three carrier aircraft carriers and all of the US Pacific submarine fleets, were not present during the attack. They were spared and the US wasn’t crippled like Japan wanted. The aircraft carriers proved to be more than just survivors. They also became the primary proponent for the US Navy’s Pacific operations throughout the war. During WWI battleships served this purpose. However, after HMS Argus constructed the first carrier [9] and because air power was proven to be superior than that of battleships, such as the sinking German battleshipBismarck (1941), aircraft carriers were made the new national flags. The US was unable to surrender to the Japanese because of this fact. The US did not lose its war power or ability to wage battle. You can see this in the fact that the Pacific war’s most important battles took place during 1942, just one year after Pearl Harbor was attacked. The Battle of the Coral Sea, the first ever battle between carriers, took place on May 3, 1942, five months less after Pearl Harbor. The Battle of Midway was the largest ever carrier battle and some believe it was the turning point of World War II. It took place six months after Pearl Harbor’s attack. [10]The US continued to fight the Japanese after Pearl Harbor. They were fighting them at the Battle of Guadalcanal (August 2007-February 9, 1943) which was less than seven month later. All the battles mentioned were either a victory for the Americans or a stalemate that left the Japanese suffering more than the US. This proves America’s military advantage in winning war. The US could have agreed to surrender if the carriers were damaged at Pearl Harbor. This was also evident in the Japanese’s decision to “assign twice as many torpedo-bombers per carrier than per warship”[11]. However, none of them were able to sink. The carrier’s ability to impact morale is another indicator of its power. Simply put, like the Great War’s battleships, the sinking and use of carriers to bring down a nation is disconcerting, while the ability to help the enemy is encouraging. The Doolittle Raid from April 1942 showed that carriers were both a boon for the Americans and a detriment to the Japanese. This raid was named after Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, Operation Commander. It saw specially-modified bombers take off from the decks a carrier and bomb Tokyo’s capital. The film Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), and Pearl Harbor (2001) immortalized this raid. Although the damage to Tokyo was minimal, the psychological effects were immense. It demonstrated that America was not left without a home, and that Japan was not in danger. Yamamoto was worried about the attack and made it a priority to find the US carriers left at Pearl Harbor. At the Battle of Midway, Yamamoto lost four of the precious carriers he owned. [13]Overall, carriers proved vital during the war. They allowed the US, Japan and other countries to continue at war.

Now that we know what a victory is and the difference between strategic and tactical victories, it is possible to determine that Pearl Harbor was a tactical win for the Japanese, but a strategic loss. At first, it appeared that the Japanese had dealt a serious blow to the US Navy. In fact, they didn’t lose any battles until Midway. “Pearl Harbor was a tactical success for the Japanese but a strategic failure.”[14] The Japanese strategic defeat proved to be extremely crucial in the destruction of the carriers. The movie Tora! (1970) Tora! After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Yamamoto is thought to have stated, “We have merely roused a sleeping giant and stirred him to action.”[15] This phrase, though not officially confirmed, mirrors the outlook of Yamamoto in the wake of the attack. Pearl Harbor was a more significant loss for Japan that it was for America, and thus, America’s best option to enter the war was to do so.

Yamamoto uses the term “sleeping titan” to refer to the American people and their industry. The actual military force of America could be beaten, as shown by Pearl Harbor and the invasion of the Philippines, Guam, and other American islands.However,onceignited, the American war machine could not be stopped. In 1942, the US increased its defense spending by more than 25%, from $6.13b in 1941 to $22.05b in 1942. The federal spending rose by more than 132% in that same year. War production took 32.23% from the GDP in 1943. Federal spending reached $72.11b in 1945, with 89.49% going to war. [16] Table 2 shows that the US Nominal GNP was higher than the combined GDP’s all Axis power (Germany, Austria and Japan). It accounted for 65% of the total Allied GDP in 1944. [17] This was the Axis’ industrial might when they entered war.

Lend-Lease Act played a major role in the US’s readiness to move to a war-economy right away after Pearl Harbor. Congress granted monetary loans to countries like Britain, China and the United States in exchange for ports and bases access. The United States was granted access to military and air bases in Newfoundland, Bermuda, and Newfoundland in return for WWI-era destroyers. Lend-Lease Act allowed for continued participation by the US in the war effort. Lend-Lease expanded exponentially when the US entered World War II. This industrial might helped defeat the forces of Japan and Germany. A 1:1 battle saw the Axis force outnumber the Japanese forces due to their military zeal and training. However, with the technological and numerical advantages of the Allies, the war was won in both theatres by 1943-44. It was still unclear how long it would take to complete. The US’s ability to create industry during WWII was crucial in the victory of the war. Without it nations such as Britain and China might have been under fascist threat. The US’s industrial output was so great that losses suffered during the attack at Pearl Harbor could be easily replaced. After a few years, it was back to the same position as before Pearl Harbor. [18]In reality, some of those battleships that were thought to have been permanently destroyed at Pearl Harbor were actually raised, repaired, refitted, and able to take part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944. This is a remarkable level of industrial output. US defense spending reached $700b in 2010, less than half what it was in 1945. [20] Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, 1941. They “firmly entrenched and threatened the destruction of their navy and nation.” [21]

The American people were the other “sleeping giant”, which “woke”. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on September 7, 1941, without having declared war. The attack on Pearl Harbor was viewed by the United States and the rest of the world as perfidious and terribly ruthless. Even Hitler, Japan’s ally was stunned by this outlandish attack. It upset Americans so much, the Army Recruitment Centers were filled to capacity the next morning, on December 8th, 1941. Roosevelt addressed Congress the next day and requested a declaration of War on Japan. The propaganda posters (Photos 1-8 in the Appendix) show that the American people were angry and wanted revenge. This phrase, “Remember Pearl Harbor 23” would become a national anthem. It would encourage young men to enlist and women to work in the factories and all Americans to purchase war bonds. The war brought out anger against Japan through propaganda and morale boosting war bonds drives. One such example was the 7th War Bond drive that was led by the brave servicemen who raised Iwo Jima’s Flag. The fuel required to win this war came from Pearl Harbor’s ashes, war bonds and a labor force.

The fact that America was attacked was important as well. America wasn’t the aggressor. This fact prevented a large group of isolationists from speaking out against the involvement in world affairs. It is impossible to avoid a war on your own land. The isolationist movement in America grew rapidly after WWI. Americans wanted America to be independent and not get involved in “European affairs.” Roosevelt was unable to enter the war in 1939 due to this group. After the terrible attack on Pearl Harbor however, even the isolationists deemed war necessary. In fact, Congress almost unanimously ratified the Declaration of War. The only vote that voted against it was by Jeannette, a Montana pacifist representative who voted against war in 1914. [24] The US’s benefit from Pearl Harbor’s attack is only possible if we understand the anger that it evoked. It is impossible to imagine a worse situation. FDR used Pearl Harbor to justify declaring war, despite not being in any real disadvantage. He also took advantage of American industrial might to quickly replace material. It was a chance to make a difference and not fear reprisal. The war effort was fuelled by the anger generated by the attack. As we have said, the attack effectively won the war for America. This is due to both the US’s industrial might as well as the people’s anger. While the US had always been able to use its industrial might, what support would it have received without the passion for revenge? If the Pacific Fleet hadn’t been shocked by the attack and had defended itself, America might have gone into war. But, to what end would that be? What number of people would have gone to the factories if there wasn’t anger? This is why Pearl Harbor deserves to be considered the best choice for the US to join the war.

The German and Italian reactions to Pearl Harbor’s attack were important, as well as being crucial in understanding its benefits. Germany and Italy declared war upon the United States together on December 11, 1941. Although it might seem like an irrational move considering the facts about American patriotism, industry and culture at that time, it was actually a legitimate decision. Germany, along with Japan, saw the US being attacked and believed it would be defeated early in the war. Hitler believed that the US would be able to frighten Italy and Germany by declaring war on them, even though they had not yet sued for peace. This was clearly not true as Congress responded by declaring war on the same day. Germany and Italy were not at all concerned at that time. The US military had only been at war for three days with Japan, so no one had yet seen it in action. And the Atlantic was the barrier that separated the now-warring nations. Hitler believed Japan would defeat America before Germany had to face them.

Another reason Germany declared war was the Barbarossa attack, the huge invasion of the Soviet Union which had dominated European theater. Japan could help the Germans fight the Soviets on two fronts if Germany declared war against the US. Japan refused to be involved, so Germany was stuck in an undesirable situation. Although the US was unhappy with the situation, they had to continue fighting in Europe and the Pacific. But, it was better than Germany fighting the US. FDR met Churchill at many conferences in 1940-42. The US did have no strategy in the Pacific. Britain had only one plan: “main fleet from Singapore 28”. But the US fought with equal ferocity on both fronts. The history has proven that both sides won with the US offensives. Because of its vast industry, the US could fight in multiple theaters simultaneously while Japan and Germany couldn’t. Due to America’s patriotism as well as its industrial might, the US could fight in multiple theatres at once, which is why it was declared war on Germany. Pearl Harbor was also the reason Germany declared military war on the USA, so it is easy to conclude that Pearl Harbor lost the war on Germany.

Germany’s inevitability was very beneficial for the US. The defeat of Germany allowed America the power to rule Europe after the war and promote her capitalist, Democratic cause throughout the world. It also enabled America to be the leading power on the planet. FDR’s goals in WWII weren’t just to end the fascist threat. He also wanted to become the global leader and replace Great Britain. The US realized this dream by winning war, supporting all countries ravaged by the worst war of history and establishing the United Nations. This dream would never have been realized if the US hadn’t entered WWII. These were the results, and America being the world’s top power was a great position to be in, it is possible to say that America’s entry into WWII was the most important decision she has made. Although the US didn’t know the outcome, it was the best decision made. As we discussed, Pearl Harbor was a key factor in America’s success today. She would not have been where she is today if it weren’t for the US’s entry into war. We can summarize that the US took control of the world’s only superpower by entering the war with the help of its military and social forces. Pearl Harbor was the most important thing in America’s history.

WWII is responsible for every political, social and economic situation in the world today. WWII can be linked to every aspect of the world’s current situation, whether it is the economic growth of Europe or the ongoing tensions in Middle East. America was the most prominent country after the war and held a huge influence over post-war societies around the world. The Marshall Plan was an economic anchor for Europe, West Germany was dependent upon the US and Allied military forces to defend it from the USSR, and Jews settled in Israel via the US-backed United Nations motion. The US did not participate in many world affairs before WWII. This includes the decision to end British control over the Middle East. However America controlled the world and had an influence on almost every aspect of its functioning after WWII. America motioned for Israel’s statehood, was the first person to recognize it and was the first one to recognize it. In many ways, the US is still dominant today. The US President’s election is often followed closely in certain countries. This has been a result of the events following WWII. We can now say that the US was the dominant power in the world after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This is further evidence of its growing influence. It should be a part of American culture as it is what defines America today. Everything that makes America what it is today can be traced back to the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

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  • sofiamiller

    I am Sofia Miller, a 21-year-old blogger and student. I love writing, and I'm passionate about education and learning. I blog about a variety of educational topics, from student life to university admissions. I also write about parenting and lifestyle topics.

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