"Watching Pearl Harbor being destroyed and thousands of lives lost put most of us into a state of shock." -Johnie and Dale Gano
Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in an attempt to cripple the United States' Pacific Fleet and gain control over Southeast Asia. According to the Imperial War Museums, "Japan had been modernising its economy throughout the 20th century and wanted to build an empire of its own. However, Japan lacked the natural resources to make it a reality, with all but 6% of its oil supply being imported." IWM Stories. As a result of …show more content…
"The attack on Pearl Harbor killed 2,403 U.S. personnel, including sailors, soldiers and civilians. Additionally, 1,178 people were wounded. 129 Japanese soldiers were killed." (History Editors, 2022). The attack led to severe economic losses for the United States, which declared war on Japan the next day. The destruction caused a lasting impact on the nation, inspiring patriotism and a sense of unity in the United States.
How long did the attack on Pearl Harbor last? The attack went on for an hour and 15 minutes. "The first Japanese dive-bomber appeared over Pearl Harbor at 7:55 AM (local time)" (Britannica). Then a "second wave struck at 8:50 AM" damaging a large amount of ships, aircraft, and many more (Britannica). The Japanese withdrew around 9:00 AM, ending with a defining moment in history that led to entering World War