EQ: Why do countries go to war? The U.S. Enters WWII EQ: Why do countries go to war?

Militarists & Nationalists took over Japan in the 1930s Militarists & Nationalists took over Wanted to expand and get more living space

Japanese Expansion and Aggression Invaded and brutalized Manchuria and China in the late 1930s European countries were busy dealing with the Great Depression and Hitler By the 1940s, only U.S.- controlled Pacific islands were in Japan’s way

U.S. Embargo on Japan The US protested Japanese expansion and aggression by: Refusing to recognize Japanese conquests in Asia imposing an embargo (ban) on exports of oil and steel to Japan Moving the pacific fleet to the Hawaiian Islands Tensions rose but both countries negotiated to avoid war

U.S. Embargo on Japan Japan felt they were being threatened and began to plan the take over of the U.S. controlled pacific islands To prevent a counter-attack, Japan felt it was necessary to destroy the U.S. Pacific fleet

The Attack on Pearl Harbor Japan attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Sunday, December 7, 1941 around 7:30am

The Attack on Pearl Harbor 2,400 Americans killed and 1,200 wounded More than 300 aircraft destroyed 21 ships were sunk or damaged , including 8 battleships – nearly the whole U.S. Pacific fleet 3 aircraft carriers were out at sea during the attack and were not destroyed These aircraft carriers became crucial to the wars outcome

The U.S. Declares War The next day, President Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war “a date which will live in infamy” The U.S. officially joined WWII on the side of the Allies