Essay Sample: What Were the Motives Behind Japan’s Attack on Pearl Harbor?

The tension between the United States and Japan grew stronger. During the 1940s, as World War II worsened, President Franklin Roosevelt wanted to steer away from the ongoing battle and Japan’s military expansion. On December 7th, 1941, the tension snapped. Japan propelled a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States naval base located in Hawaii. Unquestionably, three reasons set off this strike. Japan was humiliated by the United States navy base growth, hit by economic and military restraint, and their New World Order idea crumbling.

Firstly, one key reason why Japan struck Pearl Harbor, The United States naval fleet expansion was seen as a simple rivalry with Japan. In July of 1940, the United States Congress passed the Naval Expansion Act, promising by 1944 the fleet would triple in size (Doc C). The Navy scared Japan with worrisome anger. “When I think about the strengthening of American defenses in the Southwest Pacific. The expansion of the American fleet,... I see no end to difficulties'' Hideki Tojo explains his ideas (Doc E).

The next speculation about Japan's motives behind the Pearl Harbor attack was that Japan's economy and military were stricken due to the United States oil embargo. In 1937, Japan attacked China years later after completing their occupation of Manchuria in 1932 (Doc C). In order to prevent several more invasions throughout East Asia, the United States released an embargo on oil against Japan in August of 1941. Originally Japan was receiving 380 tons of oil in 1937, but by 1942 their shipments had depleted to only 88 tons (Doc D). In East Asia there are no oil fields; because of this. Japan relies on America for 80% of their oil shipments (Doc B).

The concluding piece behind the puzzle of why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor is that Japan's New World Order failed, the plan that caused everything. The Japanese empire craved power, conquering Manchuria and a part of China to do so (Doc B). Japan believed the Yamato race was superior, planning to spread themselves throughout all of East Asia (Doc A). In addition to the Yamato race, Japan stationed 1 million male troops in China (Doc E).

The domino effect leading up to the Pearl Harbor ambush caused by Japan was a three-reason disaster. Japan's jealousy of United States naval fleet expansion and the United States oil embargo, fearing that their New World Order will fail due to future economic and military losses. Although what Japan did was terrible, the United States handled the situation poorly. During Japan's East Asia invasions, the United States never interfered until after they declared the New World Order; briefly mentioning the United States; the USA only started worrying about others after they heard their name called. Japan would've been powerless, preventing the Pearl Harbor attack if the United States joined WW2 sooner.