Summary
1931 brought economic strains into Japan as they entered into what was expected to be a quick invasion of China, and soon found that it would last longer than planned due to resistance from the Chinese military. In order to gain back money they had lost, Japan made plans to go into rich European colonies in Southeast Asia and take over the land and resources. Being allies with the Western Europeans, America heard tell of these invasions and stepped in to help in 1940. Not only did they want to save the European colonies, but the U.S. also wanted to protect their islands of Guam and the Philippine Islands. In order to protect their islands, America set up a Naval Station on Pearl Harbor located on Hawaii. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto of Japan felt threatened by the fleet and made plans to destroy it. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese attacked damaging 10 ships, 8 battleships, killing 2400 Americans, and wounding over 1000. Following the attack, Japan took control of Guam and Wake Island. To have their revenge on the Japanese, America and Australia attacked big cities with 16 B-25 bombers in order to scare them into the idea that this was not a one sided war. The opposing sides battled for months before Japan decided that they needed to be rid of the airfield on the Midway Islands. America was able to find out about the attack before it went through and waited, prepared to fight. In the end, the U.S. attacked the ships from above and won the battle. In order to stay in the lead General Douglass MacArthur, the commander of Allied land forces decided to avoid Japanese base camps and seize undefended land. Eventually the U.S. heard that on the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands a Japanese air base was built. Quickly American troops went on the offensive and attacked. Both sides battled for six months over the Island in the Battle of Guadalcanal. In the end American troops defeated the Japanese. Even through their defeats, the Japanese continued attempts at conquering land in Southeast Asia.
Important Articles to Provide a Deeper Understanding
- Overview of the Pearl Harbor Attack An article of factual recall starting from why the Japanese wanted to bomb Pearl Harbor to their successful outcome. "The problem with the plan was the danger posed by the U.S. Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese fleet, devised a plan to immobilize the U.S. fleet at the outset of the war with a surprise attack." (1,323 words)
- 50e. Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl Harbor through the eyes of the U.S., explainging their plans and tactics for revenge on Japan. "The United States was as unwilling to accept Japanese expansion and Japan was unwilling to end its conquests." (650 words)
- World War II in the Pacific A summary of events, listing conquered islands and military devices used to defeat the opponent during the Pacific War. "Faced with severe shortages of oil and other natural resources and driven by the ambition to displace the United States as the dominant Pacific power, Japan decided to attack the United States and British forces in Asia and seize the resources of Southeast Asia."
- Japan, the United States, and the Road to World War II in the Pacific In order to get a deeper understanding into why the Japanese began their raids over the Pacific, the article explains a brief history of Japan and their past struggles. "When Japan moved into the French colony in Indo-China in the summer of 1941, the United States responded by freezing Japanese assets in US banks, cutting Japan off from American scrap iron, petroleum, and technology—illustrating Takahashi’s warning about Japan’s dependence on the West." (5,198 words)
- The Battle of Midway In one of the most important battles of the Pacific, the Americans won back their advantage in the war by toppling Japan in the Battle of Midway. "It is believed that Yamamoto had no idea that he was sailing towards such a large force and his diversionary attacks on Dutch Harbour had failed to lure any part of Task Forces 16 and 17 away from where they were." (1,574 words)
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/battle_midway_01.shtml
- USA Declaration of War on Japan From the political standpoint of the United States, Roosevelt must decide whether or not Japan is a country that will be worth fighting. "I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire." (623 words)
- Those Angry Days Coming in as a major shock to the peaceful American society, the bombing of Pearl Harbor shook up the government, sending them in a whirlwind of questions on how to respond and what tactics to use to receive revenge. "How could the U.S military, 'who had been warned long ago and were standing on the alert, have been taken so completely by surprise?'"
- Fighting Back Despite knowing that their lives could end at any moment, thousands of American soldiers fly in B-24 Bombing planes, flying over and around Japanese transport, fighting back for their lost fleet in Hawaii. "Young and one of this officers watched as a torpedo dropped from the plane, hit the water, and streaked forward- straight at them."
- Final Push Fighting until the end, neither Japan nor America gave up the fight, forcing America to work extra hard to win back not only the land lost but new land as well, pushing themselves toward the ultimate goal of winning the Pacific War. "The Japanese willingness to fight to the death seemed to make them something other than human to the American who fought them."
Videos for the Visual Learners
Prelude to the Bombing of Pearl Harbor A prelude to the attack on Pearl Harbor, explaining how different countries battles over land contributed to the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
America's belief that Japan would not be a huge threat left the U.S. susceptible to the open bombing on their fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Battle of Midway In June 1942, Japan's loss to American bombing planes during Battle of Midway made headway for the winners of World War II.
Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
America's belief that Japan would not be a huge threat left the U.S. susceptible to the open bombing on their fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Battle of Midway In June 1942, Japan's loss to American bombing planes during Battle of Midway made headway for the winners of World War II.
Primary Source Documents
Pearl Harbor Attack Documents A list of letters and documents from World War II, outlining the different feelings people had toward each other, the war, and how to handle the matters at hand. "Developments are occurring in the Pacific area which threaten to deprive each of our nations and all humanity of the beneficial influence of the long peace between our two countries. Those developments contain tragic possibilities." (8,546 words)
Woman's Account to What Happened in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 Elizabeth P. McIntosh reveals her story as a regular person living in Hawaii when the bombing planes coming to destroy Pearl Harbor arrived. "The vision of death became reality when I was assigned to cover the emergency room." (1,114 words)
Attack at Pearl Harbor, 1941 Soldiers recount how they felt and their given order when their fleet was bombed on December 7, 1941. "I reported to the Major that the ship was aflame, which was rather needless, and after looking about, the Major ordered us to leave." (1,052 words)
Woman's Account to What Happened in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 Elizabeth P. McIntosh reveals her story as a regular person living in Hawaii when the bombing planes coming to destroy Pearl Harbor arrived. "The vision of death became reality when I was assigned to cover the emergency room." (1,114 words)
Attack at Pearl Harbor, 1941 Soldiers recount how they felt and their given order when their fleet was bombed on December 7, 1941. "I reported to the Major that the ship was aflame, which was rather needless, and after looking about, the Major ordered us to leave." (1,052 words)
Maps
Japan's invasion and conquering parts of China was only the beginning of America's intervention in stopping Japan in its path. All the highlighted red areas are the sections of land where Japan intended on overtaking for power and land resources had America not stopped them in the Battle of Guadalcanal (located in the lower right hand corner.)
In 1942 Japan planned out their strategies to ensure that Southeast Asia could easily be conquered without intervention from the U.S. The area circled in blue was the region of land the Japanese planned on gaining for natural resources. The red arrows and lines are the trails the troops would take to attack. The dotted line to Hawaii was to be taken by planes in order to bomb Pearl Harbor and get America out of the way for easier attacks in their determined areas of Asia.
Unfortunately for the Americans, the Japanese Military was skillful in the assortment of transportation and differing times between the attacks. The Captains in charge of the fleet of boats in Pearl Harbor never knew when and where the next bomb would hit, giving the Japanese an advantage in being able to strike the innocent boats. The Neosho was the only docked boat that made it out of the cross fire safely. This map shows the differing Japanese planes and their times to launch their attacks. They all came from Northern Oahu taking different routes to inevitably end up and bomb the same place over a span of two hours.
The Japanese Military planned accordingly to how they expected to fight the Battle of Midway. The red arrows each point to a destination where a set number of certain ships would be headed to fight, but the Americans planned a different route of attack by plan. Since the boats were spread throughout the western side of the Midway Islands, U.S. planes were almost unable to track their opponents, but on June 4 1942 their paths finally, fatally crossed.
This map displays the Allied forces attacks during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Each picture displays a different method for attack and information about the terrain because the land was difficult to maneuver.