Why Did Japan Attack the United States?
As a result of the atrocities the Japanese were committing in China, the United States began passing economic sanctions against Japan, including trade embargoes on aircraft exports, oil and scrap metal, among other key goods. While the United States hoped embargoes on oil and other key goods would lead Japan would halt its expansionism, the sanctions and other penalties actually convinced Japan to stand its ground, and stirred up the anger of its people against continued Western interference in Asian affairs.
To Japan, war with the United States had become to seem inevitable, in order to defend its status as a major world power. Because the odds were stacked against them, their only chance was the element of surprise. Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was the main base for the United States Pacific Fleet. The Japanese goal was to destroy the Pacific Fleet and destroy morale in the U.S. Navy, so that it would not be able to fight back as Japanese forces began to advance on targets across the South Pacific.
The Aftermath
At first, the Pearl Harbor attack looked like a success for Japan. Its bombers hit all eight U.S. battleships, sinking four and damaging four others, destroyed or damaged more than 300 aircraft and killed some 2,400 Americans at Pearl Harbor. But the Pearl Harbor attack had failed in its objective to completely destroy the Pacific Fleet. The Japanese bombers missed oil tanks, ammunition sites and repair facilities, and not a single U.S. aircraft carrier was present during the attack. What Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor did accomplish was pulling the United States out of isolation and into World War II.
On December 7, 1941, following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Three days later, after Germany and Italy declared war on it, the United States became fully engaged in the Second World War.
U.S. involvement in the Second World War was quickly followed by a massive mobilization effort. Since the fight was not taking place on US soil, the US quickly became the main source of supplies for the allies.
U.S. involvement in the Second World War was quickly followed by a massive mobilization effort. Since the fight was not taking place on US soil, the US quickly became the main source of supplies for the allies.