What led to Pearl Harbor?
After World War One and the Great Depression, America took on an isolationism policy. The Office of the Historian states that isolationism is the "non-involvement in European and Asian conflicts and non-entanglement in international politics." The Great Depression of the 1930s devastated the U.S. economy, and thus attention was turned even more inward. Franklin Roosevelt worked to rebuild the economy and decrease unemployment. Militaristic regimes began to form in Japan and Germany as the United States concentrated on domestic affairs. Japan and Germany grew more encouraged as the U.S. did not stop them from conquering other territories. The Office of the Historian explains that "Japan's invasion of China in 1937 and Germany's annexation of Czechoslovakia in 1938, encouraged the Japanese and German governments to enlarge their military campaigns for the U.S. did not respond." Emboldened, Japan and Germany continued their mission of territorial acquisition.
What was the influence behind Pearl Harbor?
Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and Captain Minou Genada worked together to carry out the attack. The Government Census webpage mentions that the book, The Great Pacific War, influenced Yamamoto. The book described a war between the United States and Japan, where the Japan destroys the U.S. fleet.
What happened at Pearl Harbor?
On December 7, 1941, the U.S. fleet was surprised by a Japanese attack. The Government Census webpage states that the Japanese meant to give the United States an official declaration of war to prevent the violation of the first article of the Hague Convention of 1907. However, the message was delayed and Washington did not receive it in time. The attack violated the Hague Convention. The Library of Congress reports that the convention was an agreement of peace between pacific settlements disputes. The first article stated that these states had to work together to settle their differences. However, peace went up in flames after the attack.
On December 6, 1941, the United States intercepted a Japanese message asking about the movements at Pearl Harbor. The message was disregarded. The following day, a radar operator saw a large group of unidentified planes. Again, the warning was disregarded. The inattention to these warning signals left the U.S. Navy unprepared.
The soldiers expected a normal day and went about their normal routines. However, they were caught off guard as the Japanese attacked. The attack lasted for one hour and 15 minutes. The Library of Congress reported that the "U.S.S. Arizona was completely destroyed, the U.S.S. Oklahoma was capsized, 12 ships were sunk and 9 more damaged, along with over 160 aircrafts destroyed." The Government Census web page provides these facts for Pearl Harbor; U.S. casualties, U.S. aircraft damaged, and U.S. ships destroyed. The attack left 2,403 American soldiers dead and the Pacific fleet was destroyed. The National Archives has logbooks from the U.S. Navy's ships that provide witness accounts to what the soldiers endured during Pearl Harbor. The deck logs provide information every fours hours.
How did the U.S. respond?
After Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan and abandoned its isolationism policy. On December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy, Japan's allies, declared war on the United States. The U.S. was launched into World War Two. The Library of Congress declares that the Office of War Information (OWI) used the fear and outrage over Pearl Harbor to encourage war mobilization. The OWI became a propaganda tool that celebrated and supported American patriotism. The United States got its retribution against Japan at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The National Park Service states that the Japanese were going to lure the United States into battle at Midway to reduce their carrier powers. However, the U.S. was able to decipher their codes and they ambushed the Japanese carriers. The U.S. attacked Japan and sunk four of their aircraft carriers. After, the U.S. began its island-hopping campaign.
Pearl Harbor remains an important part of history. It is a memorial to the soldiers who lost their lives, but also a statement that warns not to mess with the United States without repercussion. Pearl Harbor drew the United States out of isolation. The presence of America contributed to the Allies victory.
Ways to remember?
If you have a chance, visit the Pacific National Monument, home of the USS Arizona memorial. Check out the National Park Service for more Pearl Harbor historic sites.
And for more books on Pearl Harbor, see the OSU Library's catalog.
What are your thoughts on Pearl Harbor and its effects on America's war mobilization?
- by Emily Hancz
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