Attack on Pearl Harbor (World War II)

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor. Just before 8 a.m. on this date, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes flew over the American Naval Base and attacked the Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii. The rage lasted for just two hours but the impact was devastating. The war planes destroyed more than 300 airplanes, 20 naval bases and 8 battleships of America. Under the leadership of ex- President of the United States of America, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the congress declared war on Japan. America had finally joined World War II after more than 2 years into serious conflict.

The USA was unhappy and disapproved with Japan’s belligerent attitude towards China. Things got even worse after Japan declared war on China in 1937. During months of critical discussions between Tokyo and Washington D.C., neither side was willing to negotiate. The attack took the American base by surprise as they were not expecting any attacks close to home. Moreover, Hawaii and Japan were 4000 miles apart and a mass destruction of this scale was never expected. The Japanese believed that the attack would possibly influence USA to lift the economic sanctions against them. Instead, they had pushed their enemies into a global conflict which ultimately resulted in Japan getting occupied by a foreign power for the very first time. 

Content: www.history.com