Dec.+1941+Japanese+attack+Pearl+Harbor;+US+Declares+war+on+Japan


 * __ Before the attack on Pearl Harbor. __**

The United States had a Naval base in Hawaii [4], which had ninety six vessels, eight battleships [3]. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 am Hawaii time [4]. The American Officals thought that the Japanese were going to attack bases in the Philiphines and British territory, which they had been correct. For months, Japanese leaders had been planning to bomb Pearl Harbor and American military believed it, but was not prepared for it. American routine defense was not in place and the Japanese approached unnoticed[2].


 * __ When Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. __**

During the attack, the Japanese had sank or damaged eighteen ships; eight battleships, three light cruisers, and also three destroyers. They had also damaged or destroyed one hundred and sixty one American planes, and damaged one hundred and two planes. In the battle there were a total of two thousand eight hundred and ninety six casualties. Research says, there was a total of somewhere in two thousand deaths and seven hundred and nine that had been wounded. The Japanese had only lost twenty-nine planes, one large submarine, and all five of their midget submarines [3]. The Japanese had sent a message to Washington saying that they were going to attack, and to be ready, but they had got it late, after the attack had been over [2]. Four days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 11, Germany and Italy had declared war on the United States [3]. The United States had three aircraft carriers at Sea that had survived, that that proved to be critical to the wars outcome[1].


 * __ After the attack. __**

After the attack, Japanese thought that after the Americans would experience it, they would shrink from future conflict [1]. On December 8, the day after, president Roosevelt had asked the Congress to declare war on Japan, and it was excepted[8] Young Americans jammed into recruiting offices. There were five million who volunteered to go into Military service. It was said that the volunteers were not enough to face the challenge of the war. After the Selective Service System had narrowed it down, they had provided 10 million soldiers that were ready to fight. Those soldiers only had 8 weeks training to prepare [1]. The United States army was ready for the war.

__ Works Cited: __ >
 * 1) Danzer, Gerald, Jorge Alva, Larry Krieger, Louis Wilson, and Nancy Woloch. //The Americans//. McDougal Littel, 2005. 555-563. Print.
 * 1) Ayers, Edward, Robert Schulzinger, Jesus Teja, and Deborah White. //American Anthem//. Holt, RIneheart and Winston, 2007. 403. Print.
 * 2) http://worldwar2history.info/Pearl-Harbor/
 * 3) http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1649.html