Essay on U.S. Joins WW2 After Shock of Pearl Harbor Attack: The Guardian Report (1941)

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, The Guardian compiled and generated a news report stating reasons compelling the U.S. to join World War II. The Pearl Harbor attack by Japan turned the U.S. into a country determined to fight (The Guardian, 1941). The shocking news of the unprovoked attacked took the U.S. by surprise and eliminated all hopes that America would stay out of the World War II conflict (The Guardian, 1941). According to The Guardian (1941), by the afternoon of December 8, 1941, Congress had passed a resolution declaring war. The U.S. collaborated with the British, Netherlands, and China to declare war against Japan (The Guardian, 1941). Congress leaders had decided that henceforth it would be unwise for the nation to remain a vocal minority (The Guardian, 1941). By attacking Pearl Harbor, the Japanese actions had served to change the mind of the American people who previously thought the nation would stay aloof (The Guardian, 1941).

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According to The Guardian (1941), it was believed Berlin must have directed the actions of the Japanese people, an act that was a direct threat to the territory of the United States (The Guardian, 1941). According to The Guardian (1941), besides the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan also attacked Thailand, an aspect that eradicated all hopes of averting unlimited American participation. The Japanese believed that by attacking Pearl Harbor, they had destroyed the airstrikes defense production program (The Guardian, 1941). Despite getting into the war, the American people and the government were confident of victory due to their superior forces, planning, and strategic position (The Guardian, 1941).

The Guardian article elaborates plans held by the Japanese; they believed by attacking Pearl Harbor, they had crippled the U.S. military fleet. According to The Guardian (1941), the Japanese believed by destroying Pearl Harbor; they had prevented an American based counter-attack. The Japanese had identified the United States vulnerable points that made it difficult for them to undertake an airstrike on Japan (The Guardian, 1941). The Philippines was also recognized as a potential target by the Japanese since it had been previously utilized by American military fleets (The Guardian, 1941). Other options for the Japanese would include looking to take over the British and Dutch petroleum fields in Borneo (The Guardian, 1941). Japanese attack had previously been a surprise (The Guardian, 1941). However, after several attacks, the American Navy, which was collaborating with the British, Dutch, Australia, and Chinese were well prepared and anticipating a Japanese attack (The Guardian, 1941). It was believed that no Japanese force would match such a formidable array of naval and military strength staged against them (The Guardian, 1941).

The New York Times: Japan Wars on U.S. and Britain; Makes Sudden Attack on Hawaii; Heavy Fighting at Sea Reported

On December 8, 1941, the New York Times headline reported the Japanese had wedged war on the U.S. and Britain by a sudden attack on Hawaii, an event that was characterized by heavy fighting at sea. According to The New York Times (1941), Japan had attacked the U.S. on the pacific, with sudden attacks on Pearl Harbor and Honolulu (The New York Times, 1941). According to The New York Times (1941), the attacks had been perpetrated by the Japanese air force and navy, forcing the United States to get into an active war. The description of the attack offers a vivid explanation to the reader of the article by explaining the heavy fighting experienced at the harbor. The Japanese had devised and employed a successful surprise attack on the United States, finding them unaware, and devastating the American naval fleets (The New York Times, 1941). According to The New York Times (1941), the attack appears to have fueled the American people's urge to join the war that they had previously chosen to neglect. It resulted in both Congress and the President starting to develop and implement plans for the U.S. to ally with other countries to stop the Japanese.

According to The New York Times (1941), The U.S. had previously taken a back stand by choosing not to join the war. However, with the attack on its naval fleet, President Roosevelt scheduled to address Congress, which would entail voting whether or not to get into World War II. Besides, the scheduled Congress meeting legislative leaders and cabinet held a confluence, in what was claimed to be a "sober white house talk"; it signified the magnitude of the attack (The New York Times, 1941). The Japanese attack covered the United States and British possessions in the central and western Pacific and Thailand (The New York Times, 1941). Following the scope of the attack, Congress later passed a resolution to collaborate with the British, Dutch, and Chinese in the Far East to fight Japan (The New York Times, 1941). By agreeing to get into war with Japan, Congress was confident of victory in the battle owing to the superior forces, their strategic positioning of allied troops on the Pacific, and excellent planning by the military (The New York Times, 1941).

According to The New York Times (1941), naval ships destroyed in the Japanese attack included the battleship Oklahoma that was set on fire by Torpedo planes at Honolulu and the USS Arizona that was burnt and sank. Besides the destruction of the naval fleet, 104 soldiers were killed at a field in Hawaii (The New York Times, 1941). The heavy losses were followed by the country notifying Japan that a state of war exists, and thus the United States had officially joining World War II (The New York Times, 1941). According to The New York Times (1941), a Pacific Ocean's theatre of war was formed; it included the U.S. and its partners; it illustrated the possible plan by the U.S. and its allies.

References

The Guardian. (1941 December, 9). "U.S. in fighting spirit after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor." https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/09/pearl-harbor-attack-us-japan-1941-archive

The New York Times. (1941 December, 8). "Japan Wars on U.S. and Britain; Makes sudden attack on Hawaii; heavy fighting at sea reported."https://www.nypl.org/blog/2017/12/07/pearl-harbor-front-page