Topic 6, Lesson 8: Why did Japan attack Peal Harbor?

"A day that will live in infamy" - FDR

Topic 6, Lesson 8: Why did Japan attack Peal Harbour?

The Rise of the Japanese Empire

In the late 1930s, Japan edged closer to alliances with the fascist dictators in Europe.

The Japanese empire moved into Indochina (this alarmed America).

Japan’s military aim was to destroy any chance of the US interfering with their imperial and economic expansion into South East Asia.

Topic 6, Lesson 8: Why did Japan attack Peal Harbour?

Worsening tensions with Japan

Japanese invasion of China began in 1937. Japan declared the open-door policy obsolete.

Roosevelt lent funds to China to buy weapons and asked US manufactures not to sell planes to Japan.

In July 1940, Congress limited supplies of oil and scrap iron to Japan.

Roosevelt banned the sale of machine tools to Japan

Roosevelt also demanded that Japan withdraw from China and promise not to attack Dutch and French colonies in South-east Asia.

Japan did not respond to this demand because the US offered them nothing in return.

When France was defeated by Germany, the Japanese marched into the French colonies in Indochina.

Japan began setting up their Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

US responded by freezing Japanese assets in the US and an embargo on oil. Japan was almost wholly dependent on US oil.

Topic 6, Lesson 8: Why did Japan attack Peal Harbour?

Operation Magic

Established in the 1920s to break Japanese military and diplomatic codes

Gave information about Japanese ship movements but did not provide their destination.

US intelligence knew the Japanese had set 25th November as a deadline for making diplomatic progress.

When Secretary of State, Hull, addressed the US cabinet on 7th November 1941, he informed them that the US should anticipate a military attack by Japan “anywhere, anytime”

Topic 6, Lesson 8: Why did Japan attack Peal Harbour?

Pearl Harbour

Japan made preparations to attack the US naval base at Pear Harbour

Objective was to immobilise the US navy so it could not stop Japan’s expansion into East Asia.

Sunday 7th December 1941 - Japan launched a ferocious attack on Pearl Harbour.

Destroyed 180 American aircraft

BUT the American aircraft carriers were out at sea and avoided being attacked.

Over 2,400 American personnel died

Japan missed the American fuel stores

8th December 1941 - US declared war on Japan

11th December 1941 - Hitler (honouring his treaty obligations) declared war on the United States.