The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 was one of the most influential military strikes in world history. The surprise attack brought the United States, an ally to Great Britain, into World War II and subsequently signified a key turning point in the war. To this day, historians still ponder why Japan decided to go head-to-head with two of the world’s most able military forces. However, the reasons for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor as well as the country’s overall military objectives can be observed in the years leading up to that December day. Primarily, Japan’s decision to attack the United States and Great Britain was guided by the country’s objective of territorial and resource expansion.
Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor was preceded by the country’s objective of expansion, a pursuit that began around the turn of the century and then carried into World War II. Within the span of 40 years, beginning in 1894, Japan waged “two successful wars,” including the influential Russo-Japanese War, against the mainland of eastern Asia, helped the Allies win World War I, and also invaded nearby Manchuria in 1931 despite condemnation from the League of Nations (Pruitt 1). Then, in 1936, Japan swiftly shifted its entire economy towards wartime production, which signified Japan’s complete dedication to achieving their goal of expansion through war (Morton 100). Japan’s military-oriented leadership worked towards “the establishment of a ‘firm position’” in eastern and southeastern Asia as a means to “secure bases and raw materials” that would augment Japan’s economic prospects (Morton 100). As World War II carried on over years, Japan sought to control the Pacific through acquisition of strategically selected islands.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"The Pacific WarJapan Objectives in WWII".
- MacArthur, Douglas. Reports of General MacArthur: pts. 1-2. Japanese operations in the southwest Pacific Area compiled from Japanese Demobilization Bureau records. Vol. 2. No. 2. Center of Military History, 1966.
- Morton, Louis. “Japan’s Decision for War.” Center of Military History, 2019, https://history.army.mil/books/70-7_04.htm.
- Pruitt, Sarah. “Why Did Japan Attack Pearl Harbor?” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 10 Apr. 2018, https://www.history.com/news/why-did-japan-attack-pearl-harbor.
