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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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