One of the things that I have always enjoyed about history is being able to pinpoint events that changed everything. These events are the ones that make a person wonder where we would be if they hadn’t happened. Some events send ripples into the future, while others send large waves of change altering far more than anyone could expect. The bombing of Pearl Harbor was the event that would lead the United States into World War II and it would change the country forever.
Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States entered wars with hesitation and then retreated into themselves when they ended (CS 544). Following World War I the American people were so determined to remain out of foreign wars that they placed pressure on the government …show more content…
Even though the tensions between the two countries were rising the American people did not believe that they would be going to war with Japan. (16 CS). The people and government expected any attack from Japan to be aimed at Great Britain (p. 4 CS). In fact, the United States was quietly moving munitions from Hawaii to Palmyra a small Island in the British Fiji Islands, in preparation for such an attack (p. 4 CS). The military bases on the Oahu, on the other hand, were warned of the possibility of sabotage (p. 55 WL). Near Pearl Harbor at Hickman Army Airfield planes set neatly lined up and placed close together to protect them, which would also make them easy to destroy when the Japanese attacked (p. 55 WL). The lack of concern unfortunately meant that military installations on the island we nowhere near ready for what was about to …show more content…
The ships were docked side by side in the 1010 dock, while its normal resident the Pennsylvania set safely in dry-dock (SW p. 235). A torpedo struck the Helena and the blast from the large explosion it caused damaged the smaller Oglala (SW 235). On the other side of Ford Island, opposite Battleship Row, torpedoes struck the Utah and the Raleigh, but missed the Detroit (WL p.65). The hangars at Ford Island were also some of the first targets hit, destroying most of the planes at the naval air station (p. 128?
Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States entered wars with hesitation and then retreated into themselves when they ended (CS 544). Following World War I the American people were so determined to remain out of foreign wars that they placed pressure on the government …show more content…
Even though the tensions between the two countries were rising the American people did not believe that they would be going to war with Japan. (16 CS). The people and government expected any attack from Japan to be aimed at Great Britain (p. 4 CS). In fact, the United States was quietly moving munitions from Hawaii to Palmyra a small Island in the British Fiji Islands, in preparation for such an attack (p. 4 CS). The military bases on the Oahu, on the other hand, were warned of the possibility of sabotage (p. 55 WL). Near Pearl Harbor at Hickman Army Airfield planes set neatly lined up and placed close together to protect them, which would also make them easy to destroy when the Japanese attacked (p. 55 WL). The lack of concern unfortunately meant that military installations on the island we nowhere near ready for what was about to …show more content…
The ships were docked side by side in the 1010 dock, while its normal resident the Pennsylvania set safely in dry-dock (SW p. 235). A torpedo struck the Helena and the blast from the large explosion it caused damaged the smaller Oglala (SW 235). On the other side of Ford Island, opposite Battleship Row, torpedoes struck the Utah and the Raleigh, but missed the Detroit (WL p.65). The hangars at Ford Island were also some of the first targets hit, destroying most of the planes at the naval air station (p. 128?