BACKGROUND OF THE CONFLICT
The Pearl Harbor attack didn’t just happen. The origin of the attack dated several decades ago. In the Meiji era (1868 – 1912) the Japanese being at the risk of being colonized decided to move out of isolation. Japan chose the path of industrialization and modernization. To imitate other industrialized Western Countries and the United States of America’s industrialization and colonization; Japan decided to have a powerful military. On a slight pretext, Japan’s army attacked resource-rich Manchuria (North China). In a similar vein, Japan also attacked other South East Asian Countries. Consequently, America imposed a trade embargo on Aircraft, oil, iron, and other restrictions on Japan.
The industrialization and expansion quest put Japan on a collision path with the United States especially its relations with China. In order not to yield to American demands and take the oil by force, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7the December 1941.
TENSION DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION
The traction between the two countries was already piling up beforethe Pearl Harbor attack.Japan was on the expansionary march by the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th Century. It had already fought two warsi.e 1894-95 and 1904-05 with China and Russia respectively. The wars chalked out a way for Japan’s participation in World War I as allies with Italy and Germany.
As the Japanese economy was expanding so was its ambition of expansion. During the Great Depression of 1930, the world was facing a financial crunch. To cater to its economic foes and overcome resource shortages, resource-rich Northern China (Manchuria) was attacked in 1931. A commission of the League of Nations condemned this aggression; consequently, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations.
JAPAN PERSISTENTLY EXPANDING
Japan needed oil for its expanding and modernizing economy. When japan attacked French Indo-china in 1941, the US froze Japanese assets in the states preventing it from purchasing oil. In1937; Japan kept on pressing forward and captured Nanjing: The center of China’s nationalist party. The incident came to be known as Nanjing Massacre.
UNITED STATES PREVENTING JAPAN’S EXPANSIONISM
To check the atrocities and expansion of Japan, the United States applied economic sanctions on Japan. The U.S. and Japan continued talks at length to find a solution but to no avail. The U.S. thought that economic sanctions would keep Japan from its military ambitions. But sanctions made Japan adamant that the Western Nations are unnecessarily interfering in Asia’s affairs. The war seemed to be imminent.
Japan anticipated that if they attack major war facilities of the United States, it will send out a strong message.The United States would start repairing the necessary damage. And the U.S. will wash the oil restriction and other trade embargos on Japan. If you are interested in the reason why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, learn more on this page.
INVADING PEARL HARBOR MEANT JAPAN CONTROLLING THE PACIFIC
Pearl harbor was the main American base for its fleet in the Pacific, about 4000 miles away from the Japanese mainland. Thus the U.S. didn’t expect it to be attacked. Therefore not much attention was given to the defense of the fleet.
On set, the Pearl Harbor assault seemed to be a triumph for Japan. Its warplanes hit each of the eight U.S. ships, sinking four and harming four others. Damaged more than 300 airplanes and killed about 2,400 Americans.
HOW LONG DID THE ATTACK LAST
The attack started at 7:55 in the morning on 7th December 1941. For more than half an hour the harbor was rained with bombs and firepower. The Second wave struck at 8:50 a.m., and the fighter plans after the merciless bombing withdrew at 9:00 a.m.
AFTERMATH OF THE ATTACK
The American Naval power got weakened by the severity of the attack. However, the Japanese had not accurately calculated the infrastructure of the harbor.
At the face, it seemed that Japan had won but the real objective of destroying the US fleet was not achieved. The imperial Air force missed oil tanks, ammunition sites, and repair spaces. Besides, not a single U.S. aircraft carrier was present on the eve of the attack.
Afterward, Imperial forces of Japan captured, by 1942, parts of Burma (current Myanmar), British Malaya (Malaysia and Singapore), the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), and the Philippines. This gave them access to the natural resources of conquered areas.
