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Pearl Harbor

The attack on Pear Harbor has influenced history in a way

that has made America stronger. It helped America unite as

a country, allowing them to overcome greater obstacles. One

example is the recent tragedy of September 11. I believe that Pearl

Harbor helped unite America as a nation so when the bombing on

September 11 happened, it helped the U.S. handle this tragedy.

In my report, I would like to tell you of the events leading up to the

day of the attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent events.

In 1937, Japan invaded China and began waging a war on

them. Since Japan was militaristic, the official head of the Japanese

government did not have real power. Instead, the reins of

power were held by military officials. Military leaders convinced

Japanese people that they were under divine protection and could not

be defeated. On September 27, 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite

Treaty with Germany and Italy, which joined them to the Axis Powers.

The Japanese invasion of China disturbed America, for the U.S.

and China had always been close allies. Many Americans were

alarmed by the increasingly hostile nature of Japan's leaders and by

her powerful military thus when Chinese leader asked the U.S. for

assistance, President Roosevelt declared a moral embargo. He also

started strengthening American defenses in the Pacific. The center

of activity was the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Japan saw the embargo on China as a threat. Japan asked to

be left alone, but America refused, insisting that they withdraw from

China. Soon the embargo began to hurt Japan's economy. So they

decided to push America out of the Pacific. Japanese military leaders

warned that a long war with the U.S. would result in a Japanese

defeat. Japan believed that a knockout blow must be dealt to the

American's at the very beginning. They decided to launch a sneak

attack on...