World History Today: The Pearl Harbor Attack (December 7, 1941)

World History Today: The Pearl Harbor Attack (December 7, 1941)
The Japanese Attacks the US Naval Base

December 7, 1941 marked the attack on the Pearl Harbor by the Japanese forces. Unprepared by the sudden strike on the US Naval Base, the attack resulted in the sinking of four battleships of the US Navy and four damaged navy ships. The casualty was greater on the US Naval Base with three damaged cruisers and destroyers and one minelayer. The surprise attack ravished a total of 188 aircraft and led to the death of more than 2,000 people. More than 1,000 were wounded.

US response to the attacks

The attack automatically engaged the US in the World War II. This happened prior to the
formal declaration of war by the US. Considering the nature of the attack and the number
of casualties, the then US President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared December 7, 1941 to be
a "date which will live in infamy."

Reflection on this world history event

The rest of the world was stunned with the Pearl Harbor attack that led to massive damages
on the US Naval Base. It was so carefully planned and executed that the US didn't see it
coming. Although a force to reckon with, there's no doubt that the US was weakened badly.
The purpose of the Japanese forces is to destroy the naval battleships to make way for
further south expansion, supporting Japan's advancement into the Dutch East Indies and Malaya for rubber, oil, and other natural resources.

It all started when the Western powers refused to trade with Japan. From then on, the growing tension could no longer be ignored. The Pacific war was said to be on its way with Japan wanting to seize the mineral-rich Southeast Asia.