How Did Pearl Harbor Changed The Course Of History

Landon Gillespie November 6th, 2024 Grade 8 Mr. Miller.

Attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl Harbor was an event that changed the course of history by drawing the United States into World War II. The Japanese sent a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base known as Pearl Harbor located in Hawaii with the motive of sending a message. The Japanese sent many planes with the mission to bomb the naval base and strike war upon the U.S. These planes attacked and sank many ships and wounded around 4,500 men. This attack shocked the whole nation and also led to the participation of the U.S. in World War II. Before the attack, the U.S. wanted to avoid the war at all costs, but Pearl Harbor had changed everything. There was a long course of events

and Japan due to prior attacks (“Croteau and Flores”). Leading up to the event, the U.S. thought that Japan would end up attacking (“Pearl Harbor Attack Facts”). Even though many people had thought that Japan sent the first strikes, Americans ended up shooting the first shots (“14 Interesting Pearl Harbor Facts | Oahu Attack & USS Arizona”). These events all leading up to the battle course would eventually include the Americans in the fight in World War II. Next, on December 17, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. naval base in Hawaii. Early in the morning, around eight, Japan had plans to start attacking Pearl Harbor. This attack only lasted around seventy five minutes (“14 Interesting Pearl Harbor Facts I Oahu Attack & USS Arizona”). During the attack, 2,403 people were killed and eight naval ships were destroyed from bombing (“Pearl Harbor: Attack, Death & Fact”). After this attack ended, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan (“Pearl Harbor: Attack, Deaths & Facts”). This attack had many of the Americans with traumatizing stories from the attack. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a planned surprise by Japan to weaken the U.S. military and stop America from getting in the way of Japan's plans in the Pacific. The Japanese sent their 350 jets in two different waves,