Pearl Harbor Dbq Essay

Tension was rising between the U.S. and Japan long before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It began in 1919 as repairs were being made for WWI, Japan was on the “winning” side and wanted something in return. During the meeting at Versailles, Japan felt that Europe and America were excluding them and trying to keep distance. Japan was ready for change and separation from America and Europe. The Japanese wanted to prove their dominance by launching a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. It is hard to say what exactly caused the Japanese to attack but some say it was because Japan wanted more power, the U.S. was becoming stronger, and Japan was trying to expand.(Background essay)

Japan wanted strength and power that they did not yet have. Although they

They achieved those things mainly through expansion. In 1932, Japan established Manchuria, a puppet state located southeast of the Soviet Union. Later, in 1937 Japan began its occupation of China.(Document B) The Japanese were wary to bomb Pearl Harbor although they had planned it for a year, 80% of Japan’s oil came from the U.S. (Document D) On August 1, 1941, the U.S. cut off all trade of oil, steel, and scrap iron with Japan. This was a risky move for the United States because Japan did buy a large amount of oil from them, Roosevelt didn’t want to lose a partner. (Document D) Japan wanted to prove that they had grown and had become stronger, the only way they thought to do that was to bomb Pearl Harbor, one of the most packed U.S. military bases in the country. The bombing showed dominance but also lit a fire in the American people to prove their strength and power. These acts had simply pushed Japan to the edge and they couldn’t take it anymore. They bombed Pearl Harbor almost in spite of the U.S. and their ability to grow out of the depression. America was thriving at a time thought impossible by the rest of the world. Japan had the element of surprise when the attack happened. The U.S. had assumed they were on good terms with Japan as they had been speaking of peace treaties. Although the Japanese had surprise on their side, the U.S. was too strong. By making the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese caused the country to become more united and strengthened by trial and destruction. The devastation that the bombing caused, gave the U.S. a drive to be stronger and ultimately caused the Japanese themselves more