Results Of The Attack On Pearl Harbor
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On the 7th of December 1941, an overwhelming attack was conducted by the Japanese on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor. As a result, the US suffered massive losses. However, this outbreak of violence on Pearl Harbor accelerated the participation of the US in the Second World War. The joint session of the US Congress was address by President Roosevelt, a day after the attack. He said 7th December was a date that would forever live in the minds of Americans and the world for its infamy.
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The Congress approved the resolution of war kept before them by the President amidst outrage of the attack and a note delivered late from the government of Japan breaking off ties with the US government. The declaration for war was signed by President Roosevelt on the same day later. They strengthened their military mobilization by adapting the war economy strategy where Great Britain and Soviet Union were given a provision of war weaponries and supplies.
It did not take even a day for the Americans to unite against the Japanese in reply to the Pearl Harbor attack. Though public opinion was in favor of America entering Second World War, but there was some opposition that was stopping the nation from taking part in the war. American solidarity during the war was probably what ensured unconditional surrender policy adopted by all Allies. Historians, like Samuel Eliot Morison, felt the Pearl Harbor attack had awakened a sleeping beast and irrespective of whether the machine shops or fuel depots were destroyed or if carriers were sunk or caught in port, the US military and industrial capacity was more than enough to provide all the necessary resources required in the Atlantic and Pacific to neutralize and defeat the Japanese. According to many, American submarines were enough to take Japan towards defeat.
Another result of the attack on Pearl Harbor was that people all over the country began worrying that Japanese living in the US and Japanese sympathizers were spies for Japan. Media propaganda had a lot to do with fueling this paranoia. However, it worked. As a result, the Japanese Americans were forcibly ordered for internment after President Roosevelt signed the US Executive Order 9066 in February 1942. Also, many private citizens began attacking Japanese and Japanese business across the country.
Propaganda made frequent mention of the attack. Soon the war watchwords were “Remember Pearl Harbor”. The government of America understated the inflicted damage to hide the exact numbers from Japan. However, close to accurate estimate was made by the Japanese with the help of covert surveillance.
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Wikipedia: Results Of The Attack On Pearl Harbor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Results_of_the_attack_on_Pearl_Harbor
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On seventh December 1941, 7:55 am, as per Hawaii timing, a dive bomber from Japan appeared from the clouds covering Oahu Island. It bore on the wings the insignia of a red rising sun, the symbol of Japan and was followed by a fleet of three hundred and sixty Japanese warplanes. These planes brutally attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor. This surprise attack came as a critical setback on the Pacific navy of US and drew the Americans irreversibly into the Second World War.