Road To Pearl Harbor 2019

Eagle Against the Sun

America and Japan: The Road to Pear Harbor 1931-1941

Japan’s Economic Needs 1930s 1. IRON/COAL Manchuria 1931

1 2 3 4

2. FOOD

China

1937

3. RUBBER

Indo-China 1940

4. OIL

Indonesia

?

US Concerns in the Pacific by 1941

San Diego Hawaii Philippines

• Negotiate Japan’s withdrawal from China and Southeast Asia • Defend the Philippine Islands • Protect Hawaii and the US West Coast

Timeline of Events Leading to Pearl Harbor 1931-1941 Event

US Action

Japan’s Reaction

Sept 1931 Japan Invades Manchuria

Condemns Japanese aggression in League of Nations

Walks out of League 1933

July 1937 Japan Invades China

Pledges to increase aid to China

Increases forces in China

Dec 1937 Sinking of the USS Panay

Demands apology and restitution

Pays indemnity and apologizes

Sept 1940 Japan signs Pact with Germany and Italy

Begins rearmament program

Looks to expand toward Southeast Asia

Feb 1941 US bases Pacific Fleet Hawaii

Intimidate Japan with Pacific Fleet

Begins Planning for Pearl Harbor attack

July 1941 Japan Invades Indo-China

Cuts off trade of metals and oil

Speeds up plans for Pearl Harbor attack

Nov 1941 Japan attempts last minute negotiations with US

Demands Japan withdraw from SE Asia and China

Pearl Harbor attack fleet sails for Hawaii

• Late November, final negotiations between Japan and US break down.

How Japan sees its situation by the fall of 1941 • The US is being a bully and trying to deny Japan its right to be a major power like Britain and America • The US is “strangling” Japan by cutting off oil and vital resources it needs for national survival

• The US is unwilling to negotiate on China, doesn’t care that Japan has invested tremendous resources and lost many lives in “stabilizing” the chaos in China. • The US must be concerned with the German conquests in Europe, if Japan moves quickly to take what it needs, the US will not be able to concentrate all its resources to the Pacific • The only force capable of stopping Japan from taking what it needs in Asia is the US Pacific Fleet now based within reach at Pearl Harbor Japan has no choices left, it must attack America to survive!

Discussion Question • Do you think Japan was justified in feeling that it must attack America to survive? Why or why not?

Attack on Pearl Harbor •

December 7, 1941 –

7:55 a.m.

•

Attack lasts 1 hour 15 minutes

•

Killed 2,403 Americans – 68 civilians

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Destroyed/damaged: – 19 ships • 8 Battleships

Consequences of Pearl Harbor • America declares war on Japan – Dec. 8, 1941 – “Date that will live in infamy speech” FDR • Dec. 11, 1941 – US declares war against Germany & Italy.

Writing Prompt: World History: Standard 10.8.1 Causes/consequences of WW2

Using what you have learned and writing from the perspective of the Japanese, summarize the main reasons that led them to attack the United States at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941 .