THE SECOND WORLD WAR (Chapter 29) HOW US GOT INVOLVED - PEARL

“America never thought the Japanese could attack their forces at Pearl Harbor–especially withoutwarning. Leaders downplayed the threat to the Pacific Fleet, while focusing on the Nazi threat inEurope. Did Roosevelt conspire with Chuchill to get America into World War II, even if itmeant being atacked by Japan? This fascinating program answers the question: Why wasAmerica taken by surprise? Learn what really happened onboard eight battleships during thesurprise attack at Pearl Harbor.”

[DVD Jacket, “America Taken By Surprise,” World War II Combat Chronicles: Reader’s DigestClassic Collection (Questar, Inc., 2004)]Sunday, December 7th, 1941

surprise and unexpectedness of attackevent that transformed America - how?

racial prejudice & “yellow peril”

Japanese capabilities discredited by Americansbut real threat of Japanese imperialism & conquestthat spread from Asia to Pacific Ocean

and threatened world stability in the 1930s and 1940s

Nazi fascism and conquests in Europe, beginning in Poland in September 1939reluctance of U.S. to go to war again (“neutrality”)

but 1st peacetime draft begun

and U.S. Fleet moved from San Diego to Pearl Harbor (isle of Oahu in Hawaii)Japan’s attack on U.S. Navy gunboat Panay

U.S. as “arsenal of democracy”

non-belligerent ally after fall of France

resistance to U.S. involvement in war from isolationists

problem of pro-German sympathizers (i.e., German-American Bund)“cash and carry” and Lend Lease approaches

Committee to Defend America First

included notables like Charles Lindberg, T. Roosevelt’s daughter, and Joseph KennedyGerman “wolf packs” and sinking of U.S.S. Reuben James

Admiral Yamamoto

disliked Axis between Japan and Germanyliked Americaorchestrated attack

events and decisions that led to attack on Pearl Harbor

role of U.S. Fleet in Hawaii and firing of Admiral Richardsonsecrecy surrounding communiques about attackdiplomatic breakdown

refusal to preempt (for example, Roosevelt’s “we are a democracy, a peaceful people, and

cannot attack first”)

radar detection of Japanese Zeros, but confused with U.S. B-17 bombers“tora, tora, tora”

impact of attack and shock to Americans

immediate declaration of war on Japan“a military disaster but a political unifier”

Questions:How was the U.S. taken by surprise?

How did Pearl Harbor unify public opinion to go to war?

hatred of Asians and the Japanese enemy

incredulity or disbelief that Japan had the ability to do itpersecution of Japanese-Americansdetention campsnational unity born out of humiliationrecovery

salvage of fleet in harborrepair facilities untouchedaircraft carriers not damaged

remembering Pearl Harbor

nation’s collective memoryUSS Arizona Memorialmemorial at Pearl Harbor

revisionist view (that Roosevelt and senior officials knew about the attacks beforehand)For the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the USS Arizona Memorial, see:http://www.pearlharbormemorial.com/http://www.nps.gov/valr/