Pearl Harbor “Just before 8 a.m. on December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor near Honolulu, Hawaii (www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor).” Pearl Harbor faced a tragedy that can never be unseen. Japan wanted to pay the U.S. a little visit. It definitely was a surprise to the U.S., but had been planned months in advance by the Japanese. The intention of the attack was not very explicit. However, there are many possibilities theorized from past occurrences. Why? Japan attacked Pearl Harbor for a particular reason. They did not just kill thousands of people for the fun of it. “The Japanese government believed that the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to expand into its neighbor’s territory and take over its import market; to this end… (http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor).” They were aware that the U.S. had an abundance of fleet available; obviously more than them. Japan wanted to balance out the amount of fleet each country owned. This caused the Japanese to have more fleet than Malaya. In Malaya lied rich soil, rubber, and other reliable resources that the Japanese desired. Maybe Japan wanted to show their authority and prove their superiority. Casualties …show more content…
“In two waves of terror lasting two long hours, they killed or wounded over 3,500 Americans and sank or badly damaged 18 ships - including all 8 battleships of the Pacific Fleet - and over 350 destroyed or damaged aircraft. At least 1,177 lives were lost when the Battleship U.S.S. Arizona exploded and subsequently sank (www.pearlharbor.org/history-of-pearl-harbor.asp).” It destroyed buildings, businesses, houses, cars. etc.. Not to mention the many children it took from parents, the parents it took from children, and the families and friends that can never be replaced and always will be