Pearl Harbor Dbq

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Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, out of nowhere, but some could see it coming.Pearl Harbor is an American naval base and airfield located in Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, it was attacked by Japan so fast that most people at the base were dead in just 2 hours. Today it is known as one of the greatest defeats in US history. But, what caused Japan to attack Pearl Harbor? Well, there were at least three reasons why the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.These were that the US had cut off their supplies, Japan wanting to be the new "Leader", and the US having stronger armed forces.
One reason for the attack was Japan wanting to be the new leader like Germany was before WWI. In 1938 Japan declares its policy to establish a “new order in East Asia.” “An old order … (European and American) … is now crumbling.” (Document A)Which makes Japan want to be the new leader that Germany and America once were. Japan took advantage of America in a depression and Germany in the war. Japan wanting to be the new "leader" was one main causes of Japan attacking pearl harbor because they wanted to be stronger and more powerful leader like America and Germany once were. …show more content…

As a Prime Minister and War Minister of Japan stated "When I think about the strengthening of American defenses in the Southwest Pacific, the expansion of the American fleet, … I see no end to difficulties…. I fear that we would become a third-class nation after two or three years if we just sat tight."(Document E)This states that Japan was afraid that the United States could overturn Japan's plans for expansion. The US's strong navy was one of the causes of the attack on Pearl Harbor because the Japanese were afraid that the US navy could overpower their