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Pearl Harbor Misconception Essay

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Misconception?
On December 7, 1941 the Japanese launched an “unexpectedly” attacked Pearl Harbor. The event lead to the deaths of 2,403 Americans. The attack is seen as complete unjustifiable attack. Due to the general view taught in schools, many people believe that Japan launched a brutal attack without any reason or justification. In reality Japan was provoked by the United States, more specifically by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
FDR addressed the nation with the famous Day of Infamy Speech which went, “Yesterday, December 7th, 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 attack was of course deliberately, but …show more content…

The acts included : ending or getting rid of commercial treaty with Japan, exports of scrap iron and steel scrap were restricted and Japaneses assets in the United States were frozen. Japan could not endure the economical and commercial restrains. The Japanese had no other option but to go to war in order to escape the trap.
Japanese captain Mitsuo Fuchida led the first air wave attack in Pearl Harbor. The entire attack took approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The Japanese strike force contained 353 aircraft. The Japanese air force damaged 19 U.S navy ships. Fifty five Japanese airmen were killed in the attacked. Mitsuo Fuchida famous quote that relates to Pearl Harbor goes “It is said that the reason for a State to nurture its soldiers for years is to use them for just one day. My entire youth was dedicated for "that one day." Many lives were lost on December 7, 1941.
As FDR put it, the date will live in infamy. To gain entrance to the war, Japan had to be pushed to its limits. To unify the people and escape the crisis, the government set up events which would led to Japan not having enough resources. Japan turn to war to escape the stranglehold. Provocation led to the attack of Pearl

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