Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 A Date Which Will
Live in Infamy
Slide 2
Economic Depression Hits Japan Japanese industries had to
import nearly all of the resources they needed to produce goods.
During the 1920s Japan did not earn enough money from its exports
to pay for its imports, which limited economic growth. When the
depression struck, other countries raised their tariffs. This made
the situation even worse.
Slide 3
Militarists Take Control of Japan Japanese military leaders
argued that seizing territory was the only way Japan could get the
resources it needed. In 1931, the Japanese army invaded Manchuria,
a resource-rich region of northern China. When the Japanese prime
minister tried to stop the war by negotiating with China, officers
assassinated him. From that point forward, the military controlled
Japan. Hideki Tojo
Slide 4
In 1937, Japan invaded China. By 1941, much of the Chinese
coast is controlled by Japan. Roosevelt responded by sending
lend-lease aid to China. By July 1941, Japan has invaded French
Indochina, posing a direct threat to the British Empire.
Slide 5
America Embargoes Japan In response to Japanese aggression in
Asia, President Roosevelt A. froze all Japanese assets in the
United States B. reduced the amount of oil shipped to Japan
(including airplane fuel and scrap iron) C. sent General Douglas
MacArthur to the Philippines to build up American defenses there.
Roosevelt made it clear that the oil embargo would end only if
Japan withdrew from Indochina and made peace with China.
Slide 6
Peace or War? While the Japanese government appeared to be
negotiating for peace in good faith with the U.S., they were
secretly preparing for war. Japanese diplomats Nomura and
Kurusa
Slide 7
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked
Pearl Harbor. Film Clip on Japanese Attack
Japanese Aircraft Attack Route The Japanese fleet was 230 miles
north of the island of O'ahu at 6:00 a.m. on December 7, 1941. Six
aircraft carriers launched the first wave of 184 planes towards
O'ahu. These planes began attacking Pearl Harbor shortly
thereafter. At about the same time, attacks occurred at Kaneohe,
Hickam, Bellows, and Wheeler airfields. At 7:05 a.m., a second wave
of 167 bombers were launched.
Slide 10
Slide 11
*All U.S. ships, except the USS Arizona, the USS Utah, and the
USS Oklahoma, were salvaged and later saw action. * Japanese Fleet
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto