Pearl Harbor

A day that will live in infamyDecember 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor is a U.S. Naval Base on the island of Oahu in Hawaii

WWII in Europe• As WWII was going on in

Europe, America wanted to stay neutral.

• After WWI, America took a stance of Isolationism.

• Isolationism means we didn’t want anything to do with the affairs outside of America.

• Our concern was getting out of the Great Depression.

Why did the Japanese get into WWII anyway?

• During the Russo-Japanese war, Russia wanted a warm water port. They had port Vladivostok but it could only be used in the summer.

• Russia fought with Japan over control of Port Arthur.

• Teddy Roosevelt mediated the peace treaty and awarded Port Arthur to the Russians.

• Japan blamed the U.S. and thought the U.S. only gave it to the Russians because they weren’t Asian.

• Japanese thought themselves racially superior to all other Pacific races.

The fight over a warm water port

Japan planned to attack Russia to get Port Arthur back...

• Japan knew the Germans were going to attack Russia and made an alliance with the Germans because they would help them take back the Manchuria from Russia. (where Port Arthur was)

• Japan knew that the U.S. had helped Russia before and had given Port Arthur to Russia.

• Japan knew that sooner or later the U.S. would enter the war.

The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters

• Planned the attack on Pearl Harbor

• It was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy

• It took place on the Island of O’ahu at the Pearl Harbor U.S. Naval Base.

The Strategic Benefit of Hawaii• Hawaii is the most strategic island between Japan and the U.S. for a

refueling base. • Whoever controlled Hawaii controlled the whole Pacific!

Knowing there WAS going to be a war...• Japan decided to surprise

attack the U.S. naval base knocking out their power in Hawaii.

• If they succeeded, the U.S. would be virtually unable to fight a war in the Pacific.

Almost immediately after the attack, Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.

• An attack on America is a declaration of war.

• Germany and Italy declare formal war on the U.S.

• Americans are outraged and decide they don’t want to be neutral in the war anymore.

• The U.S. formally enters the war.

How did it happen?

• 353 Japanese bombers and torpedo planes came in 2 waves.

• They attacked airfields and then finally pearl harbor itself.

President FDR called it“A day that will live in infamy”

• 4 U.S. Navy battleships were sunk. 4 more were damaged.

• 3 cruisers, 3 destroyers an anti-aircraft training ship and a minelayer were destroyed.

• 188 U.S. planes were destroyed.

• 2402 Americans were killed 1282 were wounded.

The USS Arizona

Sunk• USS Oklahoma• USS California• USS West VirginiaDamaged• USS Nevada• USS Tennessee• USS Maryland• USS Pennsylvania• USS Utah

Many ships were capsized or not fully sunk. These were pulled up, repaired and returned to service

• Americans liked the idea that the same ships the Japanese attacked would go back across the Pacific and attack Japan itself.