This marked the first time the war had been brought to United States soil, which devastated the American people. Leading up to the attack, The Empire of Japan had sent diplomatic personnel into the United States in order to discuss diplomatic relations in regards of the war. However, as the United States and Japan were in negotiation, the Japanese forces began their planning to deliberately attack Pearl Harbor which made this act morally wrong, and some would even say cowardice. Pearl Harbor was Japans way of stabbing America in the back, however all they did was awake a sleeping giant. This single, two-hour attack took the lives of over 2,500 Americans and damaged multiple naval ships and aircraft. Consequently, they believed destroying the Naval fleet at anchor would prohibit the United States from retaliating, but this attack only ignited a fire in the hearts of many Americans with hatred being the fuel. On December 8, 1941 President Roosevelt took to congress and declared a state of war on the Empire of Japan. President Roosevelt, on 8 August 1941, said in an address to the Nation, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. (qtd in “Pearl …show more content…
The United States had been fighting in the Pacific Theatre during World War Two for nearly four years when President Truman came to the conclusion of dropping the atomic bomb full of death and destruction. The American military and society were tired of the constant struggles and stressors which came with any war. The war needed to end, and it needed to end quickly. Thanks to the Manhattan Project, the United States possessed a weapon that would later change the world. The Atomic bomb. President Truman decided that it was time to unleash this beast of a weapon in order to end the war quickly. So, President Truman, Prime Minister Churchill, and Chairman of the Government of China Kai-Shek gave the Japanese an ultimatum, the “Potsdam Ultimatum”, which urged the Empire of Japan to surrender or it would mean the destruction of the Japanese armed forces and homeland. The Japanese denied the terms of surrender and proceeded to fight on. Which, in turn, led to the decision to follow through and drop “little boy” on Hiroshima. After the first bomb the Japanese denied surrender once again which forced the second dropping on Nagasaki. However, some individuals today argue the fact that the second bomb was dropped to soon following the first. One point argued is that the Emperor was unable to see and understand the full effects of the bomb.