TURNING POINT:PEARL HARBOR

Section 8

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Suffers from polio since 1921 Former NY senator and governor Served under Woodrow Wilson as the

Secretary of the Navy Elected in 1932 Runs for and wins a historic third term as

president in 1940The American public did not want a change of

power in the face of a possible threat of war with Germany

American Foreign Policy

IsolationismAdhering to a national policy of non-

participation in alliances, engagements, or conflicts with other nations

Roosevelt still prepared the US for war just in case, even while sticking to isolationism

Reasons why US is Isolationist

Still disturbed by the outcomes of WWI Anti-war writings of ex-patriots, veterans Concerned with the Great Depression New Deal projects (FDR) Anti-war films and entertainment Peace movement

Path to War (1935-1941) Neutrality

Neutrality Act of 1935: Forbids shipment of weapons to those at war

Non-NeutralityCash and Carry Act of 1937: Allows sale of non-

military itemsRevised Act: Allows sale of weapons, but must be

shipped in foreign vessels Belligerency

Lend/Lease Act of 1941: Allows US to become weapons arsenal to democratic nations or those fighting for democracy

USA in 1940

Not prepared for war Experiencing an economic boost due to

the sale of weapons overseas Witnessing the balance of power shifting

in Europe Congress increases defense budget

BOILING POINT OF THE PACIFIC:

PEARL HARBOR

Is that all?

On December 7, 1941, Japanese warplanes bombed the huge American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack came as a complete surprise. About 2,400 Americans, both servicemen and civilians died. Many US war planes and ships were destroyed or damaged.

Japan’s Motivations

Wants to conquer neighboring China, Southeast Asia, and establish a “Greater East Asia Pact”

Military alliance with Germany and Italy

Action vs. Reaction (1940-41)

Japan: Granted military bases in southern Asia USA: Bans shipments of scrap iron to Japan

Japan: Signs Tri-Partite Pact with Germany and Italy

USA: Lend/Lease Act approved by Congress

Japan: Moves into bases in southern Asia USA: Freezes Japanese stock assets in America

and bans export of aviation fuel

Continued…

Japan: Proposes summit meeting over pacific issues and plans for war

USA: Secretary of State Cordell Hull rejects summit idea (FDR was at a funeral and could not attend)

Japan: Prime Minister Prince Konoye resigns, Hideki Tojo takes over and orders a surprise attack on USA base at Pearl Harbor. Authorized in November of 1941

Reluctant Warriors

Emperor Hirohito constantly asks the Japanese government to come up with a solution other than war

Reads a peace poem at one of their meetings:“Across the four seas, all are brothers.

In such a world why do the waves rage, the winds roar?”

Continued… Prime Minister Hideki Tojo is convinced war is

the only way. Orders highest ranking commander, Isoroku Yamamoto, to plan the attack

Pearl Harbor is decided upon because Tojo thinks it will crush the American spirit and keep them from joining the war

Yamamoto attended college in the US, and knows their fighting spirit. He plans the attack out of his sense of duty, but knows it will failMade two predictions that came true

The Honorable Yamamoto Held out hope until the last moment that

another solution could be found Officers thought him cowardly when he

told them they would have to turn back if a peace agreement was reached after the attack was planned“If anyone will disobey orders and not turn

back when the path for peace is open, resign now!”

Japan’s Pacific Strategy Stage 1: Combined fleet attacks on U.S

Pacific Fleet while Southern Asia is seized Stage 2: Fortify the chain of islands running

through Wake Island and the Marshalls Stage 3: Find, intercept, and destroy any

forces violating their defensive perimeter. Wage a war of attrition (Total War) with US.

Key to victory: the American fleet at Pearl Harbor must be DESTROYED

The Operation

Entire Japanese fleet put on alert to prepare for battle

Pearl Harbor assault ordered Plan for war, but negotiate for peace Submarines must be at Pearl Harbor

entrance to sink exiting ships Outcome must be decided in one day

Striking Force

Attack:6 large carriers8 destroyers1light cruiser360 combat planes

Support:2 battleships2 heavy cruisers3 submarines

The Attack

Yamamoto insists on not attacking until the US has been given a declaration of war at least a half hour before the attack

He is assured they will receive it by his superiors, and orders the attack

Sits in silence in his ship’s dining room with hands folded to await any news

U.S Intelligence Intercepted a Japanese code:

“Climb Mount Nitaka 1208” Some believe it means an attack is coming on

December 8, while others ignore it Receives a warning from Japan in 14 parts

through a telegram but does not decipher it in time Japanese planes detected on radar but ignored

because no one was in their office on a Sunday morning

Responsible for defense of Pearl Harbor: Gen. Walter C. Short

December 7

Attack occurred on a Sunday morning, just after 7 a.m.

Many men were either still sleep or relaxing

Men were awoken by the sound of bombs and explosionsTaken completely by surprise

Were able to shoot down some Japanese planes, but the damage done was overwhelming

Damage 4 battleships sunk

3 battleships damaged1 battleship grounded2 destroyers sunk1 other ship sunk3 cruisers damaged1 destroyer damaged3 other ships damaged188 aircraft destroyed159 aircraft damaged

2,402 killed (1,700+ on the USS Arizona)1,247 wounded

The Tragedy of the Arizona

Mistakes made by Japanese

Failure to destroy oil fields on Oahu Failure to send a third wave Why no third wave?

Commander Chuichi Nagumo felt that enough damage was done to the base. Ordered ships to turn back.

Feared that the US would send a strike force to attack his ships

Carriers were needed for another operation in the South Pacific

Shame for Yamamoto

After the attack ended and he was congratulated by his officers, he was informed that the Declaration of War did not arrive until a half hour after the attack had begun, meaning the US did not have warning of the attack. He thought this was very shameful and dishonorable

Predicted: “We have awakened a sleeping tiger.”

Pearl Harbor End Results

US Fleet crippled (not destroyed) for 18 months

Motivation for US to declare war on Japan Unites American people through patriotism

to support a war when they did not want one originally

Pearl Harbor is slowly rebuild and refitted and remains a strategic naval base

Why was there a surprise? US Government thought Japan would attack

Britain before them, since they had ships in South China Sea

Attack on Pearl Harbor was thought possible, not probable

All messages intercepted did not mention Pearl Harbor

FDR was more concerned with Germany than Japan

Japanese planning, organization, and skill