Attack on Pearl Harbor

The Attack on Pearl Harbor was a sudden military attack during World War II. It took place on December 7, 1941. The attack was carried out by the Empire of Japan. It targeted the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. A naval base is a place where warships are kept and repaired. The attack damaged many ships and airplanes and caused many deaths.

Pearl Harbor was an important base for the United States Navy. The navy is the part of a country’s military that operates at sea. Before the attack, the United States was not directly fighting in World War II. The country supported some nations but had not entered the war. Japan wanted to weaken the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Ocean so it could expand its control in Asia.

The attack began early in the morning. Japanese aircraft flew from aircraft carriers positioned in the ocean. An aircraft carrier is a large ship that carries airplanes. The planes dropped bombs and fired torpedoes at ships and airfields. Many American airplanes were destroyed on the ground. Several battleships were badly damaged or sunk, including the USS Arizona, which exploded after being hit.

More than 2,400 people were killed in the attack. Most were sailors, but some were civilians. Many others were injured. The attack lasted about two hours. Japan did not officially declare war before the attack. This made the event a surprise and caused strong reactions in the United States.

The next day, December 8, 1941, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke to Congress. Congress is the law-making body of the United States. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan. A declaration of war is a formal statement that a country is entering a war. Congress approved the request the same day. The United States officially entered World War II.

After the attack, the United States focused on rebuilding its navy and preparing for war. The attack on Pearl Harbor changed the course of the war. It brought the United States into a global conflict that involved many countries. The naval base at Pearl Harbor continued to be used by the U.S. Navy during and after the war.