Pearl Harbor Essay, Research Paper
It is impossible to change the past, so this causes people to question if certain
situations could have been prevented. No one can forever be sure, but I strongly feel
that one incident definitely could have been. This was the attack on Pearl Harbor
by the Japanese
On December 7, 1941, the U.S. troops stationed on the island of Pearl
Harbor were not waken up by the familiar sound of a bugle, but instead by gunfire
and explosions. This is what it might have been like if you were one of the troops at
Pearl Harbor. This attack was important because it led to other events in World
War II. Some of these events were America’s involvement in the war and the
dropping of the Atom Bomb at Hiroshima. Yet, a question asked by man still
remains as an important topic, could have this all been prevented?
To be able to come to a conclusion to this answer one must research the
topic to have a better understanding of the situation presented.
The emperor of Japan at the present time of World War II was Emperor
Hirohito. After he joining the Axis Powers he started dominating other countries,
cities, and island in and around Japan that belonged to countries who opposed the
Axis Powers.
After World War II started Japan grew angry with the U.S. for aiding China
in defense from Japan. Japan was angered for the U.S. would not enter the war, yet
they were defending countries. As a result of this Japan decided to make a visit of
peace to the U.S. They made the trip in November of 1941. During this “peace” trip
Japan made three
proposals to the government. They were to stop aiding China, to stay out of Asian
affairs, and to resume shipment of petroleum to Japan. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt and Secretary of State Hull, along with other cabinet members,
inflexible and unwilling to participate.
At this time great tension is building between Japan and the U.S. The United
States was aware of the anger of the Japanese, and willingness to attack, yet no
preparations or precautions were made. Any preparation is credible if it could
prevent the loss of so many American lives. The fleet of the United States were
viewed as a
?sitting duck? at Pearl Harbor. The U.S. didn’t stop to realize how one simple
attack could simply wipe out most of the United States fleet.
Yet, the knowledge of the information was not used in preventing the loss of
many American lives. The U.S. suffered heavy casualties in their Naval fleet. Some
of the ships that were destroyed were the U. S. S. Arizona, the Pennsylvania, the
Maryland, and
the West Virginia.
The major results off the bombing of Pearl Harbor were the involvement of
the United States in World War II. Some are skeptical and led to believe that
Roosevelt wanted to use the attack as an excuse to enter the war and not to prepare
for the attack.
With all the knowledge of the Japanese hostility, anger, and willingness to
attack the U.S. did not prepare. Knowing what was obvious the U.S. should have
prepared. Preparation made not have been needed if the U.S. was more flexible in
negotiations. Both sides can be viewed, but the question will still remain. My
answer is a definite
yes.
In today’s society there are many violent acts from High School students
involving guns. Other students claim to have known the attacking student was
carrying a gun, or planned to, yet nothing was done to prevent the situation. This is
a very similar situation as with the attack on Pearl Harbor. A sad point is society
and people have yet
to change.