A power point on Pearl Harbor and why the Japanese wanted control of the Pacific. Concentration on why rather then the actual attack. Overview, not comprehensive
2. Pearl Harbor is a U.S. Naval Base on
the island of Oahu in Hawaii
3. WWII in Europe
As WWII was going on in
Europe, America wanted to
stay neutral.
After WWI, America took a
stance of Isolationism.
Isolationism means we
didnt want anything to do
with the affairs outside of
America.
Our concern was getting
out of the Great
Depression.
4. Why did the Japanese
get into WWII anyway?
During the Russo-Japanese war,
Russia wanted a warm water
port. They had port Vladivostok
but it could only be used in the
summer.
Russia fought with Japan over
control of Port Arthur.
Teddy Roosevelt mediated the
peace treaty and awarded Port
Arthur to the Russians.
Japan blamed the U.S. and
thought the U.S. only gave it to
the Russians because they
werent Asian.
Japanese thought themselves
racially superior to all other
Pacific races.
6. Japan planned to attack Russia to get
Port Arthur back...
Japan knew the Germans
were going to attack Russia
and made an alliance with
the Germans because they
would help them take back
the Manchuria from Russia.
(where Port Arthur was)
Japan knew that the U.S. had
helped Russia before and had
given Port Arthur to Russia.
Japan knew that sooner or
later the U.S. would enter the
war.
7. The Japanese Imperial
General Headquarters
Planned the attack on
Pearl Harbor
It was a surprise
military strike by the
Imperial Japanese Navy
It took place on the
Island of Oahu at the
Pearl Harbor U.S. Naval
Base.
8. The Strategic Benefit of Hawaii
Hawaii is the most strategic island between Japan and the U.S.
for a refueling base.
Whoever controlled Hawaii controlled the whole Pacific!
9. Knowing there WAS going to be a war...
Japan decided to surprise
attack the U.S. naval base
knocking out their power
in Hawaii.
If they succeeded, the U.S.
would be virtually unable
to fight a war in the Pacific.
10. Almost immediately after the attack,
Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.
An attack on America is a
declaration of war.
Germany and Italy declare
formal war on the U.S.
Americans are outraged
and decide they dont want
to be neutral in the war
anymore.
The U.S. formally enters
the war.
11. How did it happen?
353 Japanese
bombers and
torpedo planes
came in 2 waves.
They attacked
airfields and
then finally pearl
harbor itself.
12. President FDR called it
A day that will live in infamy
4 U.S. Navy battleships
were sunk. 4 more were
damaged.
3 cruisers, 3 destroyers an
anti-aircraft training ship
and a minelayer were
destroyed.
188 U.S. planes were
destroyed.
2402 Americans were
killed 1282 were wounded.
14. Sunk
USS Oklahoma
USS California
USS West Virginia
Damaged
USS Nevada
USS Tennessee
USS Maryland
USS Pennsylvania
USS Utah
15. Many ships were capsized or not fully sunk.
These were pulled up, repaired and
returned to service
Americans liked the
idea that the same
ships the Japanese
attacked would go back
across the Pacific and
attack Japan itself.