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The attack on Pearl Harbor is a war that is said to have triggered the Pacific War.

Therefore, it can be said that it also plays an important role in World War II.

This article introduces the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Let’s take a look.

What is the Pearl Harbor attack?

On December 7, 1941, Japan launched an attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor is a bay to the south of the Big Island of Hawaii.

The background of the attack on Pearl Harbor is in the 1800s.
As Japan industrialized in the late 1800s, it needed to secure a market for natural resources and their products.

So Japan starts a colonial strategy.
And at that time, I tried to imitate Western countries such as the United States.

However, there was a conflict with the United States in the process of Japan’s colonial strategy.

The situation changed in 1931.

In 1931, Japan invades the resource-rich Manchuria.
In addition, Japan established a government in Manchuria and renamed it Manchuria.

On the other hand, it is no exaggeration to say that Manchuria is under the control of Japan.
The United States was distrustful of this move and did not recognize Manchuria.

In this way, the United States and Japan were in conflict.
And in 1941, the Japanese Navy launched an attack on the United States.

The attack on Pearl Harbor is said to have been a surprise attack.
As a result, it destroyed the American Pacific Fleet.

Germany and Italy, which are the key countries, also declare war on the United States.

Source: “Attack on Pearl Harbor | National Archives”

What is the impact of the Pearl Harbor attack?

The effects of the Pearl Harbor attack are said to be the following three.

• American full-scale participation
• Increasing Japan’s influence
• Expansion of World War II

Let’s take a look.

American full-scale participation

The attack on Pearl Harbor is considered to be a surprise attack in Japan. This has caused a lot of damage to the United States.

18 US Navy vessels will be damaged. Also, 300 US military aircraft were damaged, killing more than 2,400 people.

And the United States cannot grasp the war situation well due to communication problems. As a result, the United States misunderstands the target of the attack.

This is because Pearl Harbor was far from Japan.

In other words, I thought the United States was attacked near Japan.

However, it is actually different and suffers a lot. Against this background, the United States was rapidly mobilized for World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Source: “A Proclamation on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2021 ｜ The White House”

Increasing Japan’s influence

Japan’s influence will increase as Japan defeats the United States in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan at that time was also recognized as a civilized nation.

Behind this will be the victory in the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War.

However, it can be said that European countries have stronger influence in the world.  The victory in the attack on Pearl Harbor increased Japan’s influence.

Expansion of World War II

The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt sought a declaration of war against Japan in Congress.

On the other hand, Congress has not unanimously agreed. This is because America at that time was isolated.

This clarifies the attitude of not being actively involved in the war.

There were also pacifists in Congress at the time.

However, Japan will detain Americans .

Against this background, the front line proclamation against Japan is made. Also, Japan is proclaiming the front during the attack on Pearl Harbor.And Germany and Italy also proclamate the front against the United States.

This is because Japan, Italy, and Germany formed an axis country. This led to the entry of World War II into the United States.

It is also true that the participation of the United States has led to a large-scale war.
In World War II, not only soldiers but also civilians will disappear.

One theory is that more than 50 million people have died.

What is the cause of the attack on Pearl Harbor?

 

The cause of the attack on Pearl Harbor can be said to be the heightened tension between Japan and the United States.

Japan is an island country and does not touch the ground with foreign countries.
We are also taking measures to cut off connections with the outside world, such as isolated countries.

Therefore, it can be said that the country is isolated from the world.
However, we embarked on a period of aggressive expansion in the 19th century.

Japan wins the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War.

Japan, which defeated the great powers of the time, will be an influential figure in the world.

Also, it succeeded as an ally in World War I.

And we will invade Manchuria in 1931. This is due to the confusion in Japan.
In Japan, the recession and postwar turmoil have caused public dissatisfaction.

Therefore, we will solve the economic and population problems with Manchuria as the territory.

On the other hand, this act has been criticized by the League of Nations.

After that, Japan will act ignoring human rights such as the Nanjing Massacre.

The United States countered this. The United States imposes economic sanctions on Japan.
Also, in the background of this, there may have been an American desire to prevent Japan from having power.

Western countries such as the United States have increased their influence on the Asian region.

Therefore, it is said that Japan was afraid to become the center of Asia with power in Asia.

Against this background, Japan and the United States were in a tense relationship.
This may be the cause of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, an American territory.

 

What is the damage caused by the attack on Pearl Harbor?

 

In the United States, 18 ships and more than 300 planes were destroyed.

It is also said that 2,403 people have died.

However, the damage to the heart of the base was small.

As a result, the US Navy was able to recover relatively quickly from the attack on Pearl Harbor.

On the other hand, Japan would be said to have destroyed nearly 30 ships and more than 50 planes.

Also, it is said that more than 60 people have died.

In this way, it can be said that the damage to Japan is small and the damage to the United States is greater in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor Attack Questions and Answers

Is the Pearl Harbor attack a surprise attack?

The attack on Pearl Harbor is said to have been a surprise attack.

However, it is true that there are various theories as to whether it is a surprise attack.

Generally, it is said that Japan notified the United States after attacking Pearl Harbor.

Under international law at the time, it was necessary to notify in advance when launching an attack.

Therefore, an attack without prior notice is called a surprise attack.

 

What is the background for Pearl Harbor?

Pearl Harbor played an important role as an American military base at the time.
Pearl Harbor is located in the southern part of the Big Island of Hawaii.

From such a location, it played a role as a Pacific base in the United States.

It also has an important role in the Filipino strategy.

The United States at that time had a base in the Philippines.

From this background, it is said that Pearl Harbor also served as a relay point.
Therefore, you probably thought that attacking Pearl Harbor could cause great damage.

What is the impact of the attack on Pearl Harbor in Japan?

The attack on Pearl Harbor is a surprise attack, so it can be said that the damage to the Japanese army is small.

Also, Japan has not attacked Pearl Harbor except for surprise attacks.

In other words, the US military hasn’t attacked since it was ready. Therefore, the damage in terms of combat power will not be great.
However, it is greatly affected by the heightened anti-Japanese sentiment.

A surprise attack on the United States has heightened anti-Japanese sentiment within the United States.

As a result, the United States abandons its position as a neutral nation and declares a front to Japan.

And in World War II, we dropped a nuclear bomb on Japan.
The damage caused by the nuclear bomb is great, many people die and suffer from sequelae.

The direct damage is small in the Pearl Harbor attack.
However, it can be said that it was greatly influenced by the series of movements triggered by the attack on Pearl Harbor.

What is the relationship between the attack on Pearl Harbor and the German-Soviet war?

The German-Soviet war is a war that broke out between Germany and the Soviet Union.

And the German-Soviet war is said to have taken place at the same time as the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Germany and Japan have formed an alliance and cooperated.

And its ally, Germany, was able to take advantage of the German-Soviet war.

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union forms an alliance with the United States to avoid attacks from Germany.
Based on this alliance, Japan suffered great damage in World War II.

The Pacific War that broke out in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor eventually became the same as World War II.
And because the United States and the Soviet Union were in an alliance at this time, Japan was forced to struggle.

Source: “World War II Records | National Archives”

Let’s understand the attack on Pearl Harbor

The attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the factors that expanded World War II in Western countries to the Pacific region.

It was also an opportunity for the United States to participate in the war.
Therefore, it is important to understand the attack on Pearl Harbor and to know the history of war in the Pacific region.