WWII: War in the Pacific - causes, strategy's, leaders

attack on pearl harbor

Surprise Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, intended to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

“A date which will live in infamy”

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s phrase describing the Pearl Harbor attack during his speech to Congress.

Reasons for Pearl Harbor

Japan attacked to stop U.S. interference with its expansion in Asia after U.S. oil and steel embargoes threatened Japan’s war effort.

Outcome & Japanese Mistakes at Pearl Harbor

The U.S. entered WWII; Japan failed to destroy U.S. aircraft carriers and fuel depots, allowing the U.S. Navy to recover quickly.

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Japanese naval commander who planned Pearl Harbor and warned Japan could not win a long war against the U.S.

Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox

Investigated Pearl Harbor and initially suggested sabotage, which was later disproven.

Other Japanese Targets

Japan attacked the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Malaya, and Hong Kong to quickly dominate the Pacific region.

Island Hopping

U.S. strategy of capturing key islands while bypassing heavily fortified ones to move closer to Japan and cut off supplies.

General Douglas MacArthur

Supreme Allied Commander in the Southwest Pacific who led campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines.

Admiral Chester Nimitz

Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet who led naval operations and island-hopping campaigns.