This Day in History – December 7th

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On this very important day in 1941, Pearl Harbor (a harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu) was bombed by 360 Japanese warplanes and one dive bomber. The attack shocked the whole United States, which drew the country into World War II.

Many controversies and nonnegotiable ideas occurred between the United States and Japan during the time Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office as president. The government knew that an attack by Japan was probable, but nothing of security was changed or improved in Hawaii—the closest state to Japan. On Sunday morning at 7:02 a.m., two radar operators spotted a large mass of aircraft heading towards their location. However, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told not to sound an alarm. The Japanese were able to come into Pearl Harbor and launch a surprise attack on the naval base.

Much of the U.S. Pacific Fleet was useless since many of the ships and aircraft were destroyed and sunken by the Japanese. The devastating attack resulted in 2,400 deaths and 1,200 wounded. Japan lost 30 planes, 5 submarines, and fewer than 100 men. Japan was well prepared for the attack and the United States definitely was not. The attack also led to more preparedness and safety concerns for the future of terror attacks.

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

That was a part of President Roosevelt’s speech the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. After his speech, he suggested to Congress to approve a resolution for the Japan attack. The Senate voted for war against the Japanese and the total votes were 82 to 0, unanimous. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war against the United States and the U.S. government responded mutually.

The allied war was very successful with America helping and more than 400,000 lives were saved and the war lasted for four long years.