Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? On December 7, 1941, Japan had executed a deadly airstrike on an island in Hawaii called Pearl Harbor. The attack was unexpected and left critical damage to the island. The occurrence struck fear into the hearts of the American people and forced our military to fight back. The attack convinced the leaders of America to examine the possible reasons for the Japanese to commit this act of violence. The major attack on America lead to the questioning of the Japanese and the search to understanding their motivation in this war.
