Seventy years later, the attack on Pearl Harbor is still remembered and considered a fundamental part of American culture and identity. The Japanese attack that pushed the United States into World War II will always be considered cowardly, evil and barbaric. It caused the death of several thousand men and the sinking of the symbolic battleships of America and its pride. For this reason it will be one of the many events that will never be forgotten for all eternity. In American history, the Revolution, the writing of the Constitution, the Civil War, the sinking of the Titanic, Pearl Harbor and World War II, the Apollo missions, and 9/11 are just some of the major examples of such events. Of all the memorable events in United States history, however, none have had such lasting effects as Pearl Harbor. From the ashes of Pearl Harbor rose a new nation, dominated by patriotism, industrial might and the motivation to become the most powerful nation in the world. This nation won World War II and successfully emerged as the world's sole superpower, economically, politically and militarily, all as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The multiple factors that determined the situation immediately following the attack also determined the future course of the war and the post-war situation, since only the combination of so many factors together managed to put America on the right path to global dominance after the attack. attack by Japan. surrender, August 1945. Some of these factors influenced the military situation of the United States, for example the US aircraft carriers were not in port during the attack, while other factors influenced the political and social situation; the Japanese attacked without declaring war, substantially angering the American public. The combination of these factors placed America in the ripe position to dominate not only the war, but also the postwar situation. However, many of the reasons why America became a superpower were due to the situation in Europe after Germany's surrender in May 1945, and therefore cannot be directly attributed to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Indirectly, however, the attack was essential. Once again, returning to the factors that influenced the situation after the attack, Pearl Harbor set the stage for America to take the initiative in the war, and without that exact situation in December 1941, the situation in post-war Europe and Pacific could have been fundamentally different; it is also possible that the Allies could have lost the war entirely. Since the attack on Pearl Harbor determined how America entered the war, it can therefore be said that Pearl Harbor was the main contributing factor to America's situation after the war ended. It is for this reason that Pearl Harbor holds a place in American culture among events such as the crossing of the Delaware and the Battle of Gettysburg; was hugely influential in how America won World War II, if not why America won World War II. But this is not why Pearl Harbor is remembered and holds its place in the hearts of the American people; it is remembered as the devastating attack that took us by surprise, our entry point into the war, and the only place since the War of 1812 where America was attacked by foreigners on American soil. Despite all of the above, Pearl Harbor should not be remembered as “'The greatest military and naval disaster in our nation's history'”[1] as is commonly known, but rather, an unfortunate and tragic loss of life that launched the The United States entered theWorld War II in the best possible position and secured global dominance after the war ended and continues to this day. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To prove that Pearl Harbor was not a complete military disaster, it is necessary to examine the military situation before and after the Indepth attack. It is important to clarify the motive for the attack and the history that led to it. James Bradley, an expert historian of the Pacific War and Japanese culture, explains in his book The Imperial Cruise, the steps taken by Japan and the events that led them to attack Pearl Harbor. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Japanese threw away their feudal legacy and changed their entire government and culture to Westernize and become an empire.[2] They dreamed of dominating the Pacific as Europe had done with Africa and Southeast Asia; they envisioned creating the Greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere, similar to the Nazi ideal of Großdeutschland (Greater Germany). As they industrialized and began to test their authority as a world power, Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931, seizing its vast resources and agricultural land, and then, “in the summer of 1937, launched an attack on a large scale against the rest of the country. of China.”[3] The Western world was horrified that Japan would and could do such a thing. No 20th-century Western nation wanted a non-white Eastern nation to gain a position of strength that could eventually challenge their supremacy in the Far East. The United States, the other dominant power in the Pacific, has imposed an embargo on Japan over its crucial oil supply line, as well as other important resources such as rubber. The Japanese determined that without US supplies they would be unable to continue the war in China, and arrogantly decided that the best course of action was not to make peace, but to attack all American and Western colonial territories throughout the Pacific and seize vital resources for themselves. Daniel Marston, author of The Pacific War, describes the reasoning for attacking Pearl Harbor: Admiral Yamamoto, a Japanese naval commander who had studied in the United States and had come to understand American culture, knew that once the war with the United States, Japan would ultimately lose. Knowing this, he decided to try to win the war before it began, and planned to deliver a crippling blow to the US Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor to demoralize the American people and scare the United States out of the war. After months of preparation, training and secret sailing across the Pacific, a Japanese fleet waited 230 miles northwest of the Hawaiian island of Oahu on the morning of December 7, 1941 and attacked Pearl Harbor. Now that the reason for the attack is known, a discussion can begin about the attack itself to demonstrate its status as an American victory. However, it is important to clarify some terms and questions that will allow us to do this. What exactly is a win? According to former navigator Jim Clonts, veteran and author of Desert Storm, the definition of victory is simply: “Every military conflict requires defined objectives, both military and political. Achieving these goals defines victory.”[5] It is impossible to determine who the victor is without this clear definition. Another question: What is the difference between a tactical victory and a strategic victory? A tactical victory is the achievement of short-term objectives, while a strategic victory is theachievement of long-term goals. This will be important in defining what exactly happened at Pearl Harbor and who came out in the best position. Walter Lord, author and historian of the mid-1900s, details the events of the attack in his book, Day of Infamy: When the Japanese attacked at 7:55 on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, with an attacking force of 353 aircraft and five midget submarines, they bombed and torpedoed as many ships as they could, the battleships being their main target, and they finally ended the raid shortly before 10:00, sinking or seriously damaging a total of 18 ships, destroying 188 aircraft and killing and wounding approximately 4,000 men.[6]Undoubtedly, this was a major blow to the US Navy; all eight battleships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were sunk, destroyed, or severely damaged. Why did the Japanese target the United States? battleships? During the Great War, battleships, known as dreadnoughts, were the rulers of the seas; they were the largest, had the most firearms, the most powerful weapons, and the most armor. They were the main power advocates for all the world's navies. No ship could withstand their onslaught alone except the other battleships. They served as flagships (the command ship of a fleet) and commanded the pride of nations and the fear of enemies. The loss of a battleship was disheartening to his nation, the destruction of an era uplifting. The Japanese targeted battleships for this reason alone; the power of the U.S. Navy would be greatly diminished, and the American public would be greatly discouraged from waging war, or so he thought. However, the Japanese succeeded in only one of these objectives. The loss of all eight battleships meant that the Pacific Fleet was essentially out of action, and thus was forced to return to San Diego to regroup. As previously stated, however, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto wanted to eliminate the United States from the war before it began. The United States suffered a heavy blow, but did not achieve peace. On December 8, 1941, the day after the attack, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (known as FDR), president of the United States from 1932 to 1945, asked Congress to declare war on Japan in his famous Day of Infamy speech: “ Yesterday, December On October 7, 1941, a date that will remain in infamy, the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan... it is obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States with false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace... We will always remember the nature of the assault against us... the American people in their righteous strength will prevail until to absolute victory… I demand that Congress declare that since the unprovoked and cowardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”[7] The United States has not . back down as expected by the Japanese. But why would the United States be so stubborn if its naval fleet, the only means of asserting its authority in the Pacific, had simply been destroyed? The reason is simple: many ships, including three aircraft carriers and the entire US Pacific submarine fleet, were not in port during the attack.[8] They were spared destruction and thus the United States was not crippled, as Japan had hoped. The aircraft carriers were much more than just survivors, however; they became the U.S. Navy's primary supporters in the Pacific for the remainder of the war. During the First World War, thebattleships filled this role, but after the first aircraft carrier was built by Britain (HMS Argus),[9] and as air power was found to be superior to battleship power, as seen in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941 , aircraft carriers became the new flagships of nations. With this fact, the United States had even more reason not to give in to the Japanese. With such power and ability to wage war, the United States was not even close to being crippled. This is evidenced by the fact that some of the most decisive battles of the Pacific War occurred in 1942, less than a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In fact, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first carrier battle in history, took place on May 3, 1942, less than five months after Pearl Harbor. The Battle of Midway, the largest carrier battle in history and considered by some to be the turning point of the war, took place on June 4, 1942, less than six months after the attack.[10] The United States was not only still in battle after Pearl Harbor, it was also taking the fight to the Japanese at the Battle of Guadalcanal (August 7, 1942-February 9, 1943) less than seven months later. All of the above battles were either an American victory or an inconclusive stalemate that hurt the Japanese more than the United States. This proves the fact that porter sparring was probably the most important military factor for America in winning the war. If the aircraft carriers had been destroyed at Pearl Harbor, the United States might have been inclined to do exactly what the Japanese wanted, and make peace. The Japanese knew this too, as seen by the fact that they “allocated twice as many torpedo bombers per aircraft carrier as per battleship,”[11] but none were there to sink. The aircraft carrier's power is also demonstrated by its ability to influence morale. Simply, as with battleships during the Great War, the sinking of an aircraft carrier is disheartening to a nation and its military, while using them to deliver blows to the enemy is uplifting. As demonstrated by the Doolittle Raid of April 1942, the use of aircraft carriers raised American morale and lowered Japanese morale. In that raid, named after the operation's commander, Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, a force of bombers specially modified to take off from the decks of an aircraft carrier flew from the USS Hornet and bombed the Japanese capital of Tokyo.[12]This raid is been immortalized. from the film Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) and again from Pearl Harbor (2001). The damage to the city resulting from the raid was minimal, but the psychological effects were enormous. It showed America that they were not crippled by Pearl Harbor, and it showed the Japanese that they were not safe from harm and that the United States was willing to bring the war home to them. Yamamoto was extremely concerned by this raid and committed himself to hunting down the US carriers lost at Pearl Harbor in the Battle of Midway, ironically losing four of his prized carriers during the battle.[13] Overall, the aircraft carriers proved inadequate. they were extremely important during the war, as they allowed the United States to stay in the war and defend itself against Japan, in addition to the fact that their military and psychological applications were extensive. Now, using the definition of victory and the difference between tactical and strategic victory, it can be determined that Pearl Harbor was a tactical victory for the Japanese, but a strategic defeat. Initially, it seemed that the Japanese had dealt a major blow to the US Navy, and from the beginning of the war, they did not lose a single battle until Midway. "For the Japanese, Pearl Harbor became a tactical success, but a strategic disaster."[14] Failurein destroying the aircraft carriers he was extremely essential in the Japanese strategic defeat and proved that they could not win the war. In the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!, Yamamoto is said to have uttered a famous phrase soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor: "I fear that all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with terrible resolve." not respectable, it reflects the attitude and beliefs of the Japanese admiral of the time. Pearl Harbor was more of a loss to Japan than to the United States and, therefore, the best way America could have entered the war. The “sleeping giant” Yamamoto refers to in his joke is the American public and its industry. True American military strength could be defeated, as demonstrated by Pearl Harbor and the invasion of the Philippines, Guam, and other American islands. However, once ignited, the American war machine could not be stopped. As shown in Table 1 (see Appendix), U.S. defense spending increased from $6.13 billion to $22.05 billion, more than 259 percent, in 1942 from 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Federal spending also increased more than 132% that year. In 1943, war production accounted for 32.23% of GDP. In 1945, federal spending reached $72.11 billion, of which 89.49% was spent on war.[16] In comparison, as shown in Table 2, the nominal GDP of the United States was larger than the combined GDP of all the Axis powers (Germany, Austria, Japan, etc.). By 1944, it was larger than all the Axis and Allied powers combined, averaging 65% of the Allies' total GDP for the entire war. This is the industrial might that the Axis faced when America entered the war. One of the reasons the United States was so ready to convert to a war economy immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor was due to the Lend-Lease Act. During the 1930s, Congress authorized monetary loans, as well as shipments of weapons, merchant ships and obsolete warships to nations like Britain and China, already fighting against the forces of tyranny, in exchange for access to ports and bases around the world. For example, in exchange for World War I destroyers to help combat the threat of Nazi U-boats (submarines) in the North Atlantic, Britain granted the United States access to naval and air bases in places like Bermuda and Newfoundland . The Lend-Lease Act not only kept nations already fighting, but maintained the neutrality of the United States by actively participating, and supported preparation for the inevitable total war economy. When the United States entered the war, Lend-Lease continued and expanded as the difference between Axis and Allied industrial production continued to increase exponentially. This industrial power is what defeated the forces of Germany and Japan. In a 1:1 fight, the Axis forces were militarily superior due to their zeal and training, but with the numerical and technological advantages enjoyed by the Allies, the war was won in both theaters in 1943-44. The only question left at that point was: How long would it take to finish it? The industry carried out by the United States during World War II was the main factor in winning the war and, without it, nations such as Great Britain, China and the USSR could have fallen under the fascist threat. Industrial production was so extensive that the losses suffered during the attack on Pearl Harbor were considered easily replaceable and, after a year or two, the United States found itself in the same situation as before Pearl Harbor.[18] In fact, some of thebattleships thought to have been permanently sunk at Pearl Harbor were raised, repaired, and refitted enough to see action at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944.[19] This type of industrial production is unbeatable even by today's standards. US defense spending in 2010 was $700 billion, which, adjusted for inflation, is less than half the defense budget in 1945.[20] When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, they essentially signed their own death warrant, as the “sleeping giant” line suggested. They “have firmly planted the seeds of the destruction of their navy and the near-destruction of their nation.”[21] The other part of the “sleeping giant” that “woke” was the American people. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, it did so without declaring war beforehand. Because attacking a nation without declaring war was against the signatories of the Hague Convention (a precursor to the Geneva Conventions),[22] the attack on Pearl Harbor was seen by the American people and the world as treacherous, terribly ruthless, uncivilized , treacherous and deceitful. Even Hitler, Japan's ally, seemed shocked by such a blatantly evil attack. This angered the American public to the point that Army recruiting centers were lined up outside the door the following morning, December 8, 1941. That same day, President Roosevelt addressed Congress calling for a declaration of war on Japan. (see page 6), FDR put into perspective the feelings of all Americans about the attack and ensured fuel for the war effort that would last until 1945. As the propaganda posters, images 1-8 in the appendix, show, the anger of the American people and their desire for revenge would be immortalized by the phrase “Remember Pearl Harbor”.[23] It would push young men to enlist, young women and older men to work in factories, and all American citizens to buy war bonds. The feeling of anger towards Japan was maintained throughout the war through the use of propaganda, as well as the moral drive of national heroes to promote war bonds, one notable one being the 7th War Bond drive led by the soldiers who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, immortalized in the famous Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph (see Figure 9). From the ashes of Pearl Harbor came the fuel necessary to win the war, the fuel of which will be war bonds and industrial manpower. Also very important was the fact that the United States was attacked; America was not the aggressor. This fact has prevented the large faction of isolationists from speaking out against involvement in affairs around the world, since it is impossible to stay out of a war that comes to one's territory. After World War I, the isolationist movement grew very rapidly in the United States; citizens wanted America to keep to itself and stay out of the “European question”. This group was the only factor that kept Roosevelt from entering the war in 1939. However, after the cowardly attack on Pearl Harbor, even the isolationists concluded that war was necessary. Indeed, the Declaration of War was ratified almost unanimously by Congress, with only one dissenting vote, a pacifist representative from Montana, Jeannette Rankin, who also voted against entering the war in 1914.[24] The anger resulting from the attack is essential to understanding the benefit of the attack on Pearl Harbor to the United States. No other possible situation could have had the same result. With the good fortune that the aircraft carriers were spared and the easy replacement of the material thanksto American industrial might, Pearl Harbor was essentially an excuse for FDR to declare war without being at a disadvantage at all, while simultaneously silencing large numbers of isolationists.[25]In essence, it was a perfect opportunity to strengthen himself without fear of retaliation. To reiterate, the sentiment aroused by the attack became the fuel for the war effort. As previously stated, the attack essentially won the war for the United States; and the reason for this is the combination of industrial power and the resulting anger of the people. The United States has always had industrial might, but without the passion for revenge, how much support would the war effort have received? If the Pacific Fleet had not been surprised by the attack, had not defended itself, and had emerged in a relatively acceptable position, America might have entered the war, but to what end? How many people would have gone to work in the factories if there had not been anger, if there had not been “Remember Pearl Harbor”? This is why Pearl Harbor should be considered the best possible way for the United States to enter the war; the combination of industry, massive support and patriotism for the war made the attack essentially a confirmation of "Japan's inevitable defeat".[26] Without this feeling, the war would have been much more difficult to fight and maintain politically. Finally, but equally important to understanding the benefits of the attack on Pearl Harbor, was the German and Italian response. On December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy jointly declared war on the United States. While this may seem like a very irrational decision considering what we know about patriotism and American industry today, it was actually a pretty good move at the time. Having seen the devastating attack inflicted on the United States, Germany, like Japan, believed that America would soon be eliminated from the war. While the United States had not yet sued for peace, Hitler believed that a declaration of war by Germany and Italy would push them over the edge of fear. Of course, this was not the case, as Congress responded with its own declarations of war that same day. At the time, however, Germany and Italy had no reason to fear. No one had yet seen the American Army in action, having been at war with Japan for only three days, and the mighty Atlantic separated the two now warring powers. Hitler believed that Japan would defeat the United States before Germany ever had to deal with them. Another reason to declare war, Germany was at the center of the Barbarossa Offensive, the massive invasion of the Soviet Union that dominated the European theater. If Germany declared war on the United States, as dictated by the terms of the Tripartite Pact, the alliance signed by Germany, Japan and Italy in September 1940 that formed the Axis powers, Japan could declare war on the USSR and help the United United. The Germans attack the Soviets on two fronts. Japan, however, was not interested and Germany found itself stuck in a very undesirable situation. The United States wasn't having any fun either, now having to fight in Europe and the Pacific, but it was in a more desirable position fighting Germany than Germany was fighting the United States. During 1940-42, FDR and Churchill met at numerous conferences, such as the Atlantic Conference, where "the two leaders agreed to meet regularly to discuss strategy"[27] against Germany in the event that the United States entered the war , and also decided at the Washington Summit Conference that the allies would focus on a “Europe” policybefore” rather than on Japan in the Pacific. The United States had no such strategy in the Pacific, and Britain's only plan was simply "'main fleet to Singapore'".[28] Even without such a strategy, the United States fought on both fronts with equal ferocity and industrial support. As history shows us, US offensives have won on both fronts. The United States had the ability to fight in multiple theaters at once, thanks to its enormous industry, while Germany and Japan could not. Since the United States had this ability, thanks to the patriotism and industrial power experienced by America, it can be said that the declaration of war on the United States occurred when Germany lost the war. And since Pearl Harbor was the reason Germany declared war, it can therefore be concluded that Pearl Harbor lost the war for Germany. Germany's inevitable fate was of great benefit to the United States, since Germany's defeat allowed America to dominate the post-war situation in Europe, to promote its capitalist and democratic cause throughout the world, and to become the leading power of the Earth. FDR's main goals during World War II were not only to stop the fascist threat, but also to assume global leadership and replace Great Britain as the most powerful nation in the world. By winning the war, providing economic support to all the countries devastated by the most destructive war in history, and helping to found the United Nations, the United States made that dream come true. If the United States had not entered World War II, this would never have happened. Since these results occurred, and since being the world's leading power is a very advantageous position, it can be said that entering World War II was the best decision America ever made because of its subsequent position. Although the United States did not know what the outcome would be, the fact that the outcome occurred makes it the best decision ever made. As we have discussed, Pearl Harbor allowed the United States to enter the war in the best possible position and therefore should be considered the cause of America's prestigious and wealthy position today, because, without the way the United States entered the war , and without the war itself, it would not be where it is today. To recap once again, the military and social situations following the attack on Pearl Harbor sealed the fate of the war, which allowed the United States to take its place after the massive conflict as the sole superpower of the globe, making Pearl Harbor the best has happened to America in its history. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Every political, economic, and social situation in the world today can be attributed in some way to the results of World War II. Whether it is the economic prosperity of Europe, the constant tensions in the Middle East or the equality of women in the United States, it can all be connected and explained by World War II. As America dominated the scene after the war, it exerted enormous influence in postwar society around the world. For example, Europe was economically tied to the Marshall Plan, West Germany depended on US and allied military forces to defend it from the USSR, and Jews settled in Israel thanks to the US-backed motion at the United Nations. Although the United States was not involved in many world issues before World War II, for example the decision to end the British Mandate in Middle.