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The Attack Pearl Harbor

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The Attack Pearl Harbor
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Devry University
Contemporary History
Lawrence Robinson
August 18, 2012
Introduction
The Pearl Harbor attack was a military strike that was surprisingly carried out by Imperial Japanese Navy at the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, United States. Naval base of the United States was the primary target for the Japanese military forces that launched the attack. The attack was carried out in December 1941. The Japanese military forces used the attack as a precautionary action to deter the American Pacific Fleet from prying the planned military actions of Japanese Empire. The Japanese Empire had planned military actions against abroad territories of Netherlands, America and the United Kingdom. Consequently, Americans were forced into war, which was not in accordance with their wishes to defend their country. The naval base was reportedly attacked by approximately 350 Japanese military personnel. The attack was carried out in two successive waves from six different aircraft carriers. Eventually, the battleships for American Navy were all destroyed and four sank. Americans managed to raise two of the damaged battleships and repaired four to end up with six battleships servicing the war later. The attack on Pearl Harbor is discussed and examined in detail.
The Background of the Battle The intention of Japanese military to launch the attack on Americans was to reduce the effect of the Pacific Fleet of the United States. Japan sought to protect its advancement into the Dutch East Indies as well as Malaya because of the natural resources like rubber and oil in these regions that she wanted to access. Both Japan and America had contemplated possible attacks on each other as from 1920s and, subsequently, developed emergency plans. Nevertheless, tension between these nations did not escalate until Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931. Japan continued her expansion into China, which eventually resulted in a battle in 1937. Japan invested much effort in



References: Britannica. (2012). Pearl Harbor Attack. Retrieved October 5, 2012 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/448010/Pearl-Harbor-attack History Channel Japan Guide. (2002). Postwar Japan. Retrieved October 5, 2012 from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2124.html Milan, A PearlHarbor.org. (2012). Why Did Japan Attack. Eywitness Accounts. Retrieved October 5, 2012 from http://www.pearlharbor.org/history-of-pearl-harbor.asp Record, J Wikipedia. (2012). Attack on Pearl Harbor. Retrieved October 4, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

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