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Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor was the beginning of a war between two countries that would last nearly 4

years and cost hundreds of thousands of lives. The attack was swift and successful for the

Japanese, and it caught the Americans totally off guard. The "Day that will live in infamy"

drew the United States into a World War in which would change American history forever.

The political climate in the pacific area in 1940 was filled with turmoil. The Japanese had

extended their empire south through French Indochina and the Japanese Army was

invading China, conquering a third of the country. The United States of America was

shocked to see this after witnessing Hitler and his Nazi's conquer most of Europe. So, the

American's had placed embargoes on their extensive trade with Japan and both countries

were negotiating to try to solve their differences.

The U.S. tried to negotiate with the Japanese to try to avoid war, trying to convince them

that if war broke out between Japan and the United States, Japan, in the long run, would

be devastated. Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Japanese ambassador Namura and

Kiruzo talked on how to solve this crisis. These negotiations proceeded into the summer of

1941.By this time, the Japanese had realized that if they wanted to expand their empire,

they would have to fight America and, possibly, her allies. Japan decided to fight.

In order for Japan to fight America on even terms, they would have to move south, into the

East Indies (where there was a lot of raw materials for the Japanese War Machine), which,

at that time, were controlled by the western powers: Britain, the Netherlands, Australia,

and the United States. But, there was another thorn in Japan's side, the United States

Pacific Fleet was moved from San Diego to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This was a knife at

Japan's throat. If they decided to move south, then the Americans would attack. The...