why did japan attack pearl harbor?

Answer 1

The US had been putting political and economic pressure on Japan to end their occupation of Mongolia and parts of China, and withdrawing their troops. The Japanese weren't going to do this, and were actually planning on expanding the scope of their war in China. However, they needed more resources to do so, and the nation of Japan is almost totally dependent on importing natural resources such as rubber, iron, oil, etc. They were considering invading the British and Dutch possessions in the East Indies in order to obtain the resources they needed, and it became imperative for them to do so once the US cut off exports of the resources they needed.

So, faced with needing more resources to simply run the country at a normal level, much less support the ongoing war in China, they decided to take the East Indies possessions they needed. However, they realized that this would start a war with the Dutch and English (who were already involved with fighting Germany and didn't pose much threat), yet even more importantly would probably see the US enter into war against them. Therefor, they decided to launch a preemptive attack against the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor to prevent it from interferring with their operations. They hoped to do enough damage to prevent the USN from interferring at least until they captured the possessions they needed, and also hoped that the American people would be appalled by the large loss of life and wouldn't have the stomach to start a war with Japan, and would then simply accept the status qou at that time. However, as we all know, it didn't work out that way.

Ignore all the answers involving conspiracy theories that we let Japan attack Pearl Harbor just so we could enter the war. They're so ludicrous they're not even worth thinking about

Answer 2

The Japanese leaders felt that the United States of America was a threat to their plan to expand their control to include China and southeast Asia. The Japanese military thought that the attack on Pear Harbor would destroy the vast majority of the US Navy and give Japan time enough to complete the domination of much of Asia. Before the attack numerous Americans who were not formally in the military joined the military of Asian countries that were fighting to stay independent from Japan. The most famous of these groups was the Flying Tigers. The actions of these groups were perceived by the Japanese leadership to be an undeclared war by the United States of America against Japan.

Answer 3

That's where the ships were.:)

OK, seriously Japan was being starved of rubber, etc. by U.S. sanctions since they started fighting China. They needed the Phillipines and wanted to cripple the US fleet.

The US fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor. They had other attacks as part of that, however the attacks on a few Aleutian islands on Dec. 8th were hardly militarily significant.

Answer 4

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor because, by our embargo, they were 'backed into a corner'.

Did you know that 'Mr.President' knew about it at the time? Our most valuable ships were out to sea during the attack. We received translated messages about their war plan, as well.

It is really difficult to say why, because their culture is so different from ours. Could you imagine believing in something so strongly that you would die for it? Not many western minded Americans can. We believe in 'hanging on' and 'every man for himself'. To most Japanese, these are foreign concepts. I do know that this is something that is in their history; if a country refused to trade with them, Japan would attack.

I know that this may seem a little bit like I am being racist or stereotypical, but that isn't my intent. Someone who is raised in a society that is completely different than ours will have different values and experiences, all through their lives.

Answer 5

its not just about the sanctions, the japanesse under the leader ship of Tojo and Emperor Hirhito new they would not be able to countinue there imperilistic aims in the pacific without annihalating the US pacific fleet. they went to the greatest japanesse admrial of the day Yamamoto. he devised the strategy of attacking pearl harbor. Yamamoto was educated in the States and had gone to yale, he had seen the capacity of our industrial base and argued with Tojo over the descion. he was recorded as saying "i can promises you i will run free in the pacific for 12 to 18 months, after my attack on pearl harbor" he got 8 months before the US stopped the japanesse advance at the battle of Coral Sea and later Midway

Answer 6

By 1941, the oil embargo on Japan by the U.S. had disabled Japan so badly for energy fuels, that they only had about a 2 and a half year reserves to fuel their war on China, not to mention their own homeland.

They went for a "go for broke" strategy. Called "The Greater East-Asia co-prosperity sphere". With China, Burma, The Philippines, New Guinea, and yes the oil rich fields of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) being part of it.

The only obstacle was the U.S. Pacific Fleet. They chose to try to destroy it in a single surprise attack.

Answer 7

jap attacked pearl harbor because of the fact of motives which contain oil embargo imposed by ability of US because of the fact Japan occupy China yet unknown to absolutely every person formerly the attack by ability of Japan Imperial army to Pearl harbor the Civilian chief human beings and few chosen Naval Commander or Mil Ldr have a pre-hand formerly the attack that s why their airplane provider weren't around in the process the attacked. the U. S. is well-known with ahead approximately time and whilst and strenght of JIN because of the fact they have already deciphered or decoded the radio or the U. S. have get admission to to their JIN communique between their civilian leaders and militia ldrs. the U. S. has a terrific sign intelligence and human intelligence even whilst US at conflict with China, China would be defeated cuase their communique became already debugged by ability of US long term in the past. Now you may not try this if no longer of the elite human beings or conglomerate businessman who has potential even the management of China and mil ldrs are under of their sphere of impact alongside with the U. S.. My end hence is corporation if China does no longer behaved they are doomed for destruction.

Answer 8

This was part of a overall Japanese strategy in seizing oil and mineral reserves in the far east. Japan presumed the US would intercede in further Japanese incursions and seizures.

They felt that the destruction of the American fleet at Pearl would stop any immediate American interference. Als,o the military strategy included a ring of fortified positions along the frontier of the Japanese "empire". With the the destruction of the the American fleet the Japanese felt the Americans would not have the will to fight through this defense lines.

Apparently the Country that elected a leftist liberal President did have the will to fight and keep fighting. And continue right through the Cold War.

Answer 9

It was a pre-emptive strike to cover for the army, which was basically attacking Shell Oil Company. The Dutch had been overrun by Germany a year and a half earlier, but the govenment in exile was still friendly, and the US would almost certainly have moved, since both sides had been edging towards war for years.

Answer 10

speakeasy had a good answer going. the embargo part is right. there was no intention to land on hawaii and no libs or anyone has tried to take americans guns,never will try either. the japanese did occupy part of alaska for a short time. it was only the second time enemy troops occupied American territory.

edit the aluetians were attacked and occupied in 42.
michael. japan did pretty good in china and manchuria. after hitler surrendered and before we bombed nagasaki and hiroshima,we let the russians go after them. the russians defeated almost a million japanese in less than two weeks.

OK speakeasy. TY