Long Term Effects Of The Pacific War In The 1930 And 1940

In the 1930’s and 1940’s, the world was in disarray. With nations recovering from the previous mess of World War I, the last thing they needed was another war - but that’s exactly what was brought about in the upcoming years. World War II was infamous for its brutality and long-lasting effects, but also happening at the exact same time were many conflicts in the Pacific. The Pacific War relates to the battles fought during World War II in Eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Known for the bloody duels fought from island to island, the Pacific War brought treachery wherever it went. One of the cruelest events the Pacific War brought along was the attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After this ruthless attack, the United States was in dismay, the

They are unprepared to do so and no one knows that better than they do. They will not dare to get into a position where they must face the American Navy in open battle” (Prange, 1982). Just the fact that Faddis felt the need to make this statement, to comfort the U.S. on the fact that Japan was thinking of attacking them, shows that the possibility of Pearl Harbor was always there. Another statement made that had some warning of an attack behind it was from General Walter Short of the United States Army. Written months before the attack, Short made a request to The Adjutant General for more protection from fighters and bombers, asking for “142 single engine pursuit ships and 121 double engine pursuit ships and for 25 two engine bombers and 70 four engine bombers” (Prange, 1982). Coming to a total cost of $1,565,000, Short’s request for all of this protection should have hinted to the U.S. that an attack might be in the future. But, like other situations leading up to Pearl Harbor, this request was mostly ignored. Washington sent to Hawaii all that they had but it wasn’t nearly enough, and when the attack occurred, there was barely any defense