Pearl+Harbor

Pearl Harbor
Was the United States able to prevent the attack on Pearl Harbor?

 To the Congress of the United States
 Yesterday, Dec. 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. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire. -Franklin D. Roosevelt



Narrative:  The day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor is a day of history that will never be forgotten. “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” this is the beginning of the speech spoken by Franklin D. Roosevelt the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred. During the attack of Pearl Harbor 2,388 were killed while another 1,178 were wounded. 188 aircrafts were destroyed and 154 were damaged. The Japanese sunk the California and West Virginia, inflamed the Arizona and over turned the Oklahoma and Utah battleships. About a year before the attack, the U.S prohibited exporting steel, iron or aviation fuel to Japan. The Japanese attempted to settle the issue of oil with the United States. Things did not go the way they planned and the general of the Japanese decided that November 29 would be the last day Japan would accept a settlement without war. If the Japanese wanted to go to war they knew that the U.S Pacific Fleet was a threat so they produced a plan to take out the fleet. Was the United States able to prevent the attack on Pearl Harbor? Investigators have been asking this question since the attack occurred. Was the attack on Pearl Harbor indeed a surprise attack? With shallow water surrounding Pearl Harbor and the island being thousands of miles away from Japan, the United States did not feel there was a threat to the island. There are many different stories about what happened before and on the day of December 7, 1941. According to sources, the United States was on alert until right before December 7. Americans felt a Japanese attack was going to occur in Southeast Asia at any moment. The United States finally broke Japanese code that stated an attack was going to occur. It stated that diplomatic relations with the United States are to be broken off. The government sent these messages from Washington to Pearl Harbor. Though, the warnings were not received until four hours after the attack of Pearl Harbor since radio connections with Hawaii were broken at the time. This warning may have helped to save hundreds of lives but probably wouldn’t have prevented the attack. Radars detected plane that morning but were mistaken for a flight of American B-17s that were due in the west coast. In a communication center in Pearl Harbor, Joe McDonald took a call that was believed to be more important than “the message of Garcia”. The message of Garcia was a message from the president to the commanding general in Cuba during the Spanish-American war. It was critical to winning the Spanish-American war. The message stated, “There are a large number of planes coming in from north 3 points fast.” The Lieutenant told the person on the phone that it was nothing to get excited about. He believed it was a flight from the states and told them to not worry about it. Thought later they discovered it was something to worry about. If people would have taken all the signs of an attack seriously any lives may have been saved but an attack most likely still would have occurred. After the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States entered World War II.