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The Attack on Pearl Harbor
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On September 1 , 1939,
Germany invaded Poland after
numerous warnings to stop its
aggressive actions. France and
Great Britain ordered Germany
to remove their troops from
Poland immediately. When
Germany refused, France and
Great Britain declared war on
Germany and its allies.
Unprepared for the strength of the Axis powers, France was quickly
defeated and conquered. Great Britain was pummeled daily by air raids that
destroyed cities and killed thousands. However, British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill refused to surrender, stating: “We shall go on to the
end. We shall fight in France. We shall fight on the seas and oceans.
We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the
air. We shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be. We shall
fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall
fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall
never surrender.”
Throughout all of this, Great Britain was begging friendly countries
to join the war on their side. Franklin Roosevelt, the president of the United
States during this time, was very close with Winston Churchill. FDR
desperately wanted to join the Allied powers and save the United States’
friends. However, the Neutrality Acts passed earlier in the 1930s declared
that the U.S. could not join in any wars unless there was a direct threat to the
United States. Because of this, Roosevelt and the United States had to sit
aside and watch as their friends and allies were hammered by the Axis
powers. However, this all changed on a December morning in 1941.
Due to growing tension between Japan and the United States in the
Pacific, Japan launched a sneak attack against the U.S. naval base located in
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. At 7:48 AM on December 7th, 1941, a large portion of
the Japanese navy, including 414 aircraft, attacked the unsuspecting
American base. The attack lasted approximately 2 hours; killing 2,400
American soldiers and wounding over 1,000 more. However, the greatest
loss to the American military came with the loss of its ships.
Unfortunately for the United States, shortly before the attack on Pearl
Harbor, the U.S. navy had gathered up a huge portion of its Pacific fleet into
the Hawaiian harbor. When the attack came, all eight of the United States’
Pacific battleships were anchored in the harbor. After the attack, all eight of
the battleships were damaged, with four ships being completely sunk. Some
of the ships were eventually able to be repaired, but the Japanese attack had
completed its goal; the American Pacific fleet was crippled.
The next day, President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on
Japan. Congress agreed, and the U.S. entered World War II on the side of the
Allies. A few days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. to back
up their ally. The U.S. responded by declaring war on Germany and Italy as
well. The U.S. was now fully invested in the outcome of World War II.
1. What was the purpose of the Neutrality Acts? Did they succeed in
their intended purpose?
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2. Why did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor?
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3. _____ On what date did the attack on Pearl Harbor take place?
a. September 1st, 1939
b. December 25th, 1939
c. December 7th, 1941
d. September 11th, 1941
4. _____ Approximately how many Americans died in the attack on
Pearl harbor?
a. 2,500 Americans
b. 3,000 Americans
c. 1,000 Americans
d. 2,000 Americans
5. Re-read Winston Churchill’s quote about the bombing of Great
Britain. What is the message that Churchill is trying to get across and
why do you think it was important for him to do so?
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6. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States’ fleet in the
Pacific was nearly wiped out. However, the U.S. was still able to
fight and win many naval battles in the Pacific during WWII.
Describe how you think they were able to do so.
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