Pearl Harbor

Right Before entering World War II, Japan had many other problems to deal with. It had begun to rely more and more for raw materials like oil for new machines being made to make the production level of goods quicker, which enables a more profitable economy. They needed oil from outside sources because their land lacked all these things greatly, since the country was an island its natural resources was made up of rice and fish, hence the fisherman dependent society. Despite these difficulties, Japan began to build a successful empire with a solid industrial foundation and a good army and navy. The military became highly involved in the government, and this began to get them into trouble. The society began to see signs of control coming from a violent place this placed the people in a controlled state, their basic rights were slowly being taken away. In the early 1930's, the Japanese Army had many small, isolated battles with their neighboring peoples. The Japanese people spread their control to make their nation larger. In 1937, the conflicts began again with the Chinese in the area near. These conflicts led to a full-scale war known as the second Sino-Japanese War. This was considered a very bloody war, it continued until the final defeat of Japan in 1945. This shows the inner weakness of the Japanese people, with high hopes of power they knew that there was a serious stretch in order for them to accomplish that ideal powerful nation they wished for.

In 1939, World War II was beginning with a large number of victories by German forces. The German army seemed to overtake nations by choice with their large economy and vast population. Germany's success included defeats of Poland and France along with bombings of England. Many of the European nations that Germany now controlled had control over important colonial empires such as the East Indies and Singapore in Southeast Asia. These Southeast Asian countries contained many of the natural resources that Japan so desperately needed to place them in a better position economically speaking . Now that these countries seemed so worried about matters over in Europe, Japan felt that it should seize the opportunity to take over some of them.

At the same time in the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to stop the expansion of Germany and Japan, but many others in the government wanted to leave the situation alone. They thought that if they just left the nations alone that they would be kept innocent from the wrath of the German and Japanese armies. The United States began to supply materials to the countries at war with Germany and Japan, but it wanted to remain neutral to prevent and overseas war. Yet the Germans did not find their intentions neutral at all, they believed that if they were truly neutral no exchanges of goods would be made. Meanwhile, Germany, Italy, and Japan formed the Axis Alliance in September of 1940. Japan was becoming desperate for more natural resources. In July of 1941, Japan made the decision to try and make sure they access of resources were surely at their grasp. It was afraid that it could not defeat the larger and stronger Western powers. It needed to build up its armies in order to stay in the war. It also had to worry, because if the US would find out the Japanese's plan they would not be very fond and that would place Japan in a vulnerable state. Yet it was necessary so Japan continued on and began their seizure with southern Indochina. The United States was in strict opposition to Japan's plans, and began their reaction with an embargo on the shipment of oil to Japan. Oil was necessary to keep Japan's industrial factories productive. Without it, Japan's industrial and military forces would come to a stop in only a short time. Japan's government viewed the oil embargo as an act of war. Since it was done intentionally for the purpose of hurting Japan.

Throughout the next few months of 1941, the United States tried to come to some kind of resolve with Japan to settle their differences. Japan wanted the United States to lift the oil embargo and allow them to attempt a takeover of China. The United States refused to lift the embargo until Japan would back off of their aggression with China. Neither country would budge on their demands, and war seemed to be inevitable.

The United States regarded Japan's refusal to budge on their stance as a sign of hostility. They too realized that war was inevitable. They responded to this possibility of war with Japan by adding to the military forces stationed in the Pacific. The US navy used a strategy known as Island-hopping. General Douglas MacArthur and his ground forces in the Philippines began to organize into an army capable of war. The B-17 was just arriving at many air force bases throughout the country, and was a great confidence to MacArthur upon its arrival. MacArthur became so confident in his forces stationed in the Philippines that on December 5,1941, he said, "Nothing would please me better than if they would give me three months and then attack here."

The most powerful part of American defense in the Pacific Ocean was that of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Usually, this fleet was stationed somewhere along the west coast of the United States, and made a training cruise to Hawaii each year. With war looming, the U.S. Pacific Fleet was moved to the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii. This was the perfect location for the American forces in the Pacific because of its location, halfway between the United States west coast and the Japanese military bases in the Marshall Islands. It was called the "eye of the pacific" because it allowed the US to keep an "eye" on the Japanese. The Pacific Fleet first arrived at Pearl Harbor naval base on April 2, 1940, and were scheduled to return to the United States mainland around May 9, 1940. This plan was drastically changed because of the increasing activity of Italy in Europe and Japan's attempt at expansion in Southeast Asia. President Roosevelt felt that the presence of the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii would stop any Japanese attempt at a strike on the United States. Admiral James O. Richardson of the Pacific Fleet was highly against the long stay at Pearl Harbor. He felt that the facilities were unable to maintain the ships or crews. Admiral Harold R. Stark, Chief of Naval Operations, was the one who originally made the decision to extend the crew's stay in Hawaii; and, in spite of Admiral Richardson's complaints, he maintained that the Pacific Fleet must stay there to keep the Japanese from entering the East Indies. Richardson felt that the Japanese would realize the military disadvantages of being stationed at Pearl Harbor, and would be quick to act on the situation. All of Richardson's objections, in meetings with both the Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and the President,