80 years to the end of The Pacific War

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, for several reasons, all connected to its desire to become a powerful empire in Asia and the Pacific.

At the time, Japan wanted to expand to nearby countries to gain natural resources such as oil, rubber, and tin. However, the United States and other Western countries strongly opposed Japan’s expansion.

Some of the Japanese leaders believed that war with the United States was unavoidable. They feared that if they didn’t act fast, they would run out of oil and lose their chance to expand. So, they decided to attack the fleet at Pearl Harbor. Japan hoped that a quick and powerful attack would shock the American people and force the U.S. to accept peace on Japan’s terms.

Following the attack, US forces entered World War II and fought Japan. The fighting ended with the dropping of bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.