why did america enter WWII?

Question

Were they also justified in doing so?

Answer 1

A little history lesson for you -
December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941



Three days later, December 11, Japan's allies, Germany and Italy, both declared war on the United States. The U.S. Congress responded immediately by declaring war on them. Thus the European and Southeast Asian wars had become a global conflict with the Axis Powers; Japan, Germany, Italy and others, aligned against the Allied Powers; America, Britain, the Soviet Union and others.

Answer 2

America entered WWII after our navy was attacked, by the Japanese, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA on December 7th 1941.
An attack by one nation upon another nation is justification for the attacked nation to go to war in anyone's book.
You could go to Wikipedia.com and search for Pearl Harbor attack if you want more information.

Tom, you just had to get your little divisive comment in, didn't you? I don't believe that this country had people like you during WWII. If they did they would never have united in the common cause to defeat the enemy. Grow up! Partisanship is nothing but a ring through the nose of the Mobocracy.

Answer 3

We were attacked at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Congress declared war the next day, I believe. Germany then declared war on the US (they were allies of Japan). We were justified in entering WWII because we were attacked by a foreign nation.

Answer 4

7th December 1941, the Japanese Empire declared war on the United States after launching the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. A few days later, Germany made the mistake of also declaring war on the United States in an apparent attempt to prod the Japanese into attacking the Soviet Union on its eastern front. In both cases, declarations of war were communicated from sovereign nations to the United States. By definition, a declaration of war is justification to reciprocate war in kind, indeed, an expectation.

Unlike the " police actions " which have followed since that time, in virtually no case has there been a declaration of war by the United States ... IIRC ...

Answer 5

OK Pearl Harbor and yes it was justified.

Don't draw any parallels to what is happening today though, it would be like as if we had attacked Greenland in December of '41 in retaliation of Pearl Harbor.

Going after the wrong people.

Hey can you prove a link between Japan and Greenland? It's as ridiculous as trying to tie in Iraq and Al Qeada before 2003.

Answer 6

To SAVE France from the Fascist Nazis, to SAVE Europe from FASCIST Nazis, to SAVE the South Pacific from FASCIST Japs, to SAVE the world.

Ask yourself where would France, Italy, China, Russia, Western Europe, England, Australia, North Africa, and this GREAT country be if the U.S.A had NOT entered in WWII?

Oh, for FUTURE reference..FDR was a DEMOCRAT, he declared war,

TRUMAN was a DEMOCRAT, he declared WAR

JFK was a DEMOCRAT as was LBJ and they both got us into that quagmire known as the Vietnam War.

We didn't lose over 3,000 people in less than an hour on one day back then. The attack on Pearl Harbor was horrible, but it was done by an enemy in uniform, under direct military orders to bomb a military base.

The cowardly attacks on 9/11 were done by ununiformed religious fanantics trying to murder as many innocent civilians as possible.

Thank GOD for FAA's ability to get over 5,000 aircraft out of the sky in a minimum amount of time without any incidents or accidents. People seem to forget their history ........

Answer 7

We entered the Second World War after the Japanese attacked the naval station at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. We declared war on the Japanese and then Japan's allies, Germany and Italy, declared war on us. I think we were justified. Don't you?

Answer 8

On December 7, 1941...a date that will live in infamy...
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was brutally attacked by the Japanese forces. The memorials are still there for all those who died on that horrible day...and we'll honor them, always.

Justified??? Just as 9/11?? You bet it was justified.

Answer 9

quite some ultimate solutions albeit incorrect for info. usa grew to become into already at war covertly beforehand of the December 1941 assaults. between unlawful financial sanctions against the eastern empire, and use of vessels, aspects, and intelligence presented to Britain on the ecu front, usa grew to become into already a shadow enemy. released information after the needed 50 3 hundred and sixty 5 days vault launch date, few human beings comprehend the Naval brass of the yank fleet anchored at Pearl that date have been stored at nighttime via Washington who had customary an attack grew to become into drawing close yet refused to alert the backside.

Answer 10

Yes if that cowardly sneak attack on germany which you commited, could be justified......Germany didn`t attack you first. At least you could have let Germany finish of, or take a bite out of Russia, before you did enter. You never understood the importance of that.