{"id":187,"date":"1941-12-08T11:29:31","date_gmt":"1941-12-08T16:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/?p=187"},"modified":"2017-03-29T22:15:02","modified_gmt":"2017-03-30T02:15:02","slug":"japan-mounts-surprise-attack-on-pearl-harbor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/1941\/12\/08\/japan-mounts-surprise-attack-on-pearl-harbor\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Mounts Surprise Attack on Pearl Harbor"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

The United States has declared war on Japan after a Japanese airstrike on the U.S.\u00a0naval base in Pearl Harbor. The attack started around 8 a.m. and lasted only two hours, yet the outcome was devastating.\u00a0Although there have been conflicting reports, the number of casualties is said to\u00a0range\u00a0between\u00a01,500\u00a0and 2,000,\u00a0with\u00a0an additional\u00a01,000\u00a0wounded.\u00a0The casualties\u00a0extended beyond\u00a0American\u00a0lives\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0number of naval vessels and planes\u00a0also being\u00a0damaged.\u00a0The\u00a0Oklahoma,\u00a0a\u00a0U.S.\u00a0battleship, was set ablaze and\u00a0eventually\u00a0sunk\u00a0to the bottom of the harbor.\u00a0The\u00a0U.S.\u00a0Navy\u00a0quickly responded and\u00a0sent up a defensive attack, but without proper preparation,\u00a0its\u00a0efforts\u00a0had minimal\u00a0success\u2014and\u00a0heavy destruction\u00a0by the Japanese\u00a0was\u00a0imminent.<\/p>\n

While fighting in\u00a0the U.S.\u00a0just began,\u00a0World War II\u00a0started years ago in Europe with Adolf Hitler\u2019s rise to power. Japan, along with Italy, joined Germany to become the Axis Powers,\u00a0and\u00a0they have\u00a0been waging\u00a0war against American allies such as Great Britain.\u00a0Even though the U.S.\u00a0has been\u00a0providing substantial aid\u00a0to\u00a0Great Britain through the Lend-Lease program, President Franklin Roosevelt\u00a0has\u00a0managed to keep the country out of the war, until now.<\/p>\n

The reasoning\u00a0behind Japan\u2019s surprise attack on\u00a0Pearl Harbor\u00a0is unclear at this time\u00a0\u2013 although\u00a0the banning of U.S. oil exports to Japan earlier this year may have been a contributing factor.\u00a0What is known, however, is that today Congress declared war on Japan, ending\u00a0the U.S.\u2019s\u00a0neutral stance in World War II.<\/p>\n

American public opinion on whether the U.S. should get involved in the war has been split\u00a0over\u00a0the past few years. With the majority of fighting taking place in Europe, it was understandable\u00a0for the American people\u00a0to want to stay out of the conflict. Japan\u2019s\u00a0attack on American soil, however, has\u00a0brought the war to\u00a0its\u00a0doorstep, and there was only\u00a0one way to respond: to declare war.<\/p>\n

Merrit\u00a0Laws, a local,\u00a0witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor and described it, saying, \u201cI saw a bomb fall on Ford Island, in the middle of the harbor. The bomb exploded with a deafening roar. It must have been a big one. I saw two planes dive over the mountains and down to the water and let loose torpedoes at a naval ship. This warship was attacked again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The

The USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor<\/p><\/div>\n

With\u00a0the U.S.\u00a0now heading into\u00a0war, one must ask: what will\u00a0happen to\u00a0the American people\u00a0and the American spirit?\u00a0The\u00a0men\u00a0will be\u00a0shipped overseas,\u00a0into the hands of the enemy, leaving\u00a0their\u00a0families and loved ones to wonder if they will ever see their fathers, brothers\u00a0and husbands again. They are also left to wonder how\u00a0this war\u00a0will\u00a0affect\u00a0those who stay behind\u2014the\u00a0women and children whose role during wartime is something entirely different,\u00a0and who are relied on\u00a0to keep the country\u00a0moving\u00a0forward\u00a0in a time of uncertainty.<\/p>\n

In addition,\u00a0what does this mean for those\u00a0American citizens of German, Italian, or Japanese descent?\u00a0The U.S. is built on the notion that it is a\u00a0free\u00a0land that welcomes people\u00a0of\u00a0all races, religions and backgrounds. It is unclear if this American philosophy of acceptance will continue.\u00a0After\u00a0yesterday\u2019s tragedy, it is difficult to know whether it is wise or cruel to mistrust Japanese-Americans.\u00a0One question many Americans have already been asking is how Japan knew exactly where to strike.\u00a0Are there spies on\u00a0American\u00a0soil\u00a0that have been feeding information back to Japan?<\/p>\n

The questions surrounding this attack are numerous, but the fact remains\u00a0that\u00a0yesterday morning,\u00a0the U.S. was\u00a0viciously\u00a0attacked by the Japanese.\u00a0Now, the two countries are at war\u2014and no matter\u00a0when\u00a0World War II will\u00a0come\u00a0to end, or what the outcome may be,\u00a0December 7,\u00a01941 is, as President Roosevelt put it, \u201ca date which will live in infamy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hawaii Fortified To Match Attacks. (1941, December 8). New York Times, p. 16.<\/p>\n

Navies Fight Off Honolulu After Bombing. (1941, December 8). The Washington Post, p. 6.<\/p>\n

Tokyo Bombers Strike Hard At Our Main Bases On Oahu. (1941, December 8). New York<\/p>\n

Times, pp. 1-2.<\/p>\n

U.S.S Oklahoma A Veteran of 1916. (1941, December 8). New York Times, p. 2.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The United States has declared war on Japan after a Japanese airstrike on the U.S.\u00a0naval base in Pearl Harbor. The attack started around 8 a.m. and lasted only two hours, yet the outcome was devastating.\u00a0Although there have been conflicting reports, the number of casualties is said to\u00a0range\u00a0between\u00a01,500\u00a0and 2,000,\u00a0with\u00a0an additional\u00a01,000\u00a0wounded.\u00a0The casualties\u00a0extended beyond\u00a0American\u00a0lives\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0number of naval vessels and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3678,"featured_media":869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"HONOLULU, Dec. 8 \u2013\u00a0The United States\u00a0(U.S.) declares war on Japan after a Japanese airstrike on the U.S.\u00a0naval base in Pearl Harbor. The attack started around 8 a.m. and lasted only two hours, yet the outcome was devastating.\u00a0Although there have been conflicting reports, the number of casualties is said to\u00a0range\u00a0between\u00a01,500\u00a0and 2,000,\u00a0with\u00a0an additional\u00a01,000\u00a0wounded.\u00a0The casualties\u00a0extended beyond\u00a0American\u00a0lives\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0number of naval vessels and planes\u00a0also being\u00a0damaged.\u00a0The\u00a0Oklahoma,\u00a0a\u00a0U.S.\u00a0battleship, was set ablaze and\u00a0eventually\u00a0sunk\u00a0to the bottom of the harbor.\u00a0The\u00a0U.S.\u00a0Navy\u00a0quickly responded and\u00a0sent up a defensive attack, but without proper preparation,\u00a0its\u00a0efforts\u00a0had minimal\u00a0success\u2014and\u00a0heavy destruction\u00a0by the Japanese\u00a0was\u00a0imminent.\r\n\r\nWhile fighting in\u00a0the U.S.\u00a0just began,\u00a0World War II\u00a0started years ago in Europe with Adolf Hitler\u2019s rise to power. Japan, along with Italy, joined Germany to become the Axis Powers,\u00a0and\u00a0they have\u00a0been raging\u00a0war against American allies such as Great Britain.\u00a0Even though\u00a0President Roosevelt\u00a0has been\u00a0providing\u00a0aid\u00a0to\u00a0Great Britain,\u00a0he has\u00a0managed to keep the\u00a0U.S.\u00a0out of the war, until now.\r\n\r\nThe reasoning\u00a0behind Japan\u2019s surprise attack on\u00a0Pearl Harbor\u00a0is unclear at this time\u00a0\u2013 although\u00a0the banning of U.S. oil exports to Japan earlier this year may have been a contributing factor.\u00a0What is known, however, is that today Congress declared war on Japan, ending\u00a0the U.S.\u2019s\u00a0neutral stance in World War II.\r\n\r\nAmerican opinion on the war effort, and whether the U.S. should get involved,\u00a0has been split\u00a0over\u00a0the past few years. With the majority of fighting taking place in Europe, it was understandable\u00a0for the American people\u00a0to want to stay out of the war. Japan\u2019s\u00a0attack on American soil, however, has\u00a0brought the war to\u00a0its\u00a0doorstep, and there was only\u00a0one way to respond: to declare war.\r\n\r\nMerrit\u00a0Laws, a local,\u00a0witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor and described it, saying, \u201cI saw a bomb fall on Ford Island, in the middle of the harbor. The bomb exploded with a deafening roar. It must have been a big one. I saw two planes dive over the mountains and down to the water and let loose torpedoes at a naval ship. This warship was attacked again and again.\u201d\r\n\r\nWith\u00a0the U.S.\u00a0now heading into\u00a0war,\u00a0we must ask ourselves: what will\u00a0happen to\u00a0the American people\u00a0and the American spirit?\u00a0The\u00a0men\u00a0will be\u00a0shipped overseas,\u00a0into the hands of the enemy, leaving\u00a0their\u00a0families and loved ones to wonder if they will ever see their fathers, brothers\u00a0and husbands again.\u00a0\u00a0They are also left to wonder how\u00a0this war\u00a0will\u00a0affect\u00a0those who stay behind\u2014the\u00a0women and children whose role during wartime is something entirely different,\u00a0and who are relied on\u00a0to keep the country\u00a0moving\u00a0forward\u00a0in a time of uncertainty.\r\n\r\nIn addition,\u00a0what does this mean for those\u00a0American citizens of German, Italian, or Japanese descent?\u00a0The U.S. is built on the notion that we are a\u00a0free\u00a0land that welcomes people\u00a0of\u00a0all races, religions and backgrounds. It is unclear if this American philosophy of acceptance continue.\u00a0After\u00a0yesterday\u2019s tragedy, it is difficult to know whether it is wise or cruel to mistrust Japanese-Americans.\u00a0One question many Americans have already been asking is how Japan knew exactly where to strike.\u00a0Are there spies on\u00a0American\u00a0soil\u00a0that have been\u00a0posing as American citizens while\u00a0feeding information back to Japan?\r\n\r\nThe questions surrounding this attack are numerous \u2013\u00a0but the fact remains\u00a0that\u00a0yesterday morning,\u00a0the U.S. was\u00a0viciously\u00a0attacked by the Japanese.\u00a0Now, the two countries are at war\u2014and no matter\u00a0when\u00a0World War II will\u00a0come\u00a0to end, or what the outcome may be,\u00a0December 7,\u00a01941 is, as President Roosevelt put it, \u201ca date which will live in infamy.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nSources:\r\n\r\nHawaii Fortified To Match Attacks. (1941, December 8). New York Times, p. 16.\r\n\r\nNavies Fight Off Honolulu After Bombing. (1941, December 8). The Washington Post, p. 6.\r\n\r\nTokyo Bombers Strike Hard At Our Main Bases On Oahu. (1941, December 8). New York\r\n\r\nTimes, pp. 1-2.\r\n\r\nU.S.S Oklahoma A Veteran of 1916. (1941, December 8). New York Times, p. 2.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"265\"]\"Landscape\" Landscape[\/caption]","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-battle-front","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/files\/1941\/12\/USS-Arizona-during-attack-on-Pearl-Harbor-Wikimedia-commons.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8bpwr-31","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3678"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":190,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions\/190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}