Why Is Pearl Harbor Bombed

Have you ever wondered why Pearl Harbor was bombed? Pearl Harbor is located near Honolulu, Hawaii and was bombed December 7, 1941. This “devastating surprise attack” damaged nearly 20 American naval vessels, eight huge battleships, and over 300 airplanes. Also more than 2,400 Americans died, and including civilians, 1,000 wounded. The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. But still why was just Pearl Harbor attacked?

Japan and the United States were going toward war, until the attack, and then America declare war on Japan. According to a article, “ The United States was particularly unhappy with Japan’s increasingly belligerent attitude toward China. The Japanese government believed that

According to History.com, “ American officials responded to this aggression with a battery of economic sanctions and trade embargoes. They reasoned that without access to money and goods, and especially essential supplies like oil, Japan would have to rein in its expansionism.” This evidence explains what the United States plan was, and how it might affect Japan. But the plan soon turned, and Japan wasn’t giving up on expansion.

The United States had a plan to end Japan’s expansion, but Japan fought to keep their territory. According to the text, “ Instead, the sanctions made the Japanese more determined to stand their ground. During months of negotiations between Tokyo and Washington D.C., neither side would budge, It seemed war was all but inevitable.” But still why was just Pearl Harbor attacked and not any other islands.

Japan decided to bomb Pearl Harbor, when there were plenty others such as: the Dutch East Indies, Singapore or Indochina. Stated from History.com, “ Because American military leaders weren’t expecting an attack so close to home, the naval facilities at Pearl Harbor were relatively undefended. Almost the entire Pacific Fleet was moored around Ford Island in the harbor, and hundreds of airplanes were squeezed onto adjacent airfields.” This is important because it explains how the United States was surprised by the nearby

According to the article, “ At about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. Bombs and bullets rained onto the vessels moored below. At 8:10, a 1800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona and landed in her forward ammunition magazine. The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,200 men trapped inside. Next, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her balance, rolled on her side and slipped underwater. ” This explains how much damage and lives were caused through this attack. But these ships and people aren’t the only things that were destroyed, many more ships and people