Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor and how did this affect the European War?

Answer 1

This is a very in depth question to which a short, simple answer is attempted here.

Japan was involved with a war on the Chinese mainland. A US embargo of sales of strategic materials to Japan threatened the Japanese economy. The Japanese felt that the US was trying to stop their military activity by curtailing the resources they critically needed. This led to Japan looking to conquer areas containing strategic raw materials to make itself self sufficient.

The European powers, UK, France, Belgium, etc. held as colonies those regions it would need to obtain this independence. They were involved in the European War and would not be able to oppose Japanese takeover of their Pacific and far eastern colonies.

The US, however, was a major military power not yet engaged in war, and with substantial interests in the region, including the Philippine Islands, then scheduled to receive independence from the US in 1946.

The decision was made to preempt US involvement by making key strategic strikes at the US bases in the Pacific as part of the makeover of European colonies.

As for how it affected the European War, the Axis never tried to coordinate their actions as the Allies did. The primary impact on the European war was that the US became a belligerent there as well as against Japan. If Japan had not attacked the US, it is possible that any US involvement in the European war would have been delayed so long as to lead to the fall of England and perhaps a peace with the Soviet Union.

If the Axis had coordinated, things might have turned out differently. If Japan had attacked the Soviet Union, key resources that Stalin released to stop the German drive on Moscow would not have been available. "Germany first" was the decision of the Allies once the US became an active participant.

Answer 2

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor had a dramatic effect on the European war. President Roosevelt had wanted America involved in the European war for some time, but the American people were against it. After World War I they were wary of entangling themselves in European wars. Pearl Harbor was the rationale for declaring war. Since the Japanese were allied with Germany and Italy in the "Axis," declaring war on Japan naturally led to declaring war on Germany. Roosevelt, as commander-in-chief, was then able to direct how the American forces were involved. He decided to go straight to Europe and concentrate on winning there first.

Answer 3

It made a crucial change. When the US declared war on Japan for obvious reasons, it also declared war on Germany & Italy. If the US was going to war then it might as well go into Europe as well as the Pacific. but the difference it made to the war in Europe was wholly important to the defeat of Germany & Italy.

Answer 4

When japan attcked people in U.S. were stunned they wanted war anginst lapan Most of the free world considered such an attack to be Imperialism at it's worst, and at a time that was calculated to be the most likley to succeed because of our efforts to defend ourselves against the military actions of Germany in the Pacific. Germany wanted to control Europe and the Atlantic, the Emperor of Japan wanted to control the islands of the Pacific. Whether or not they coordinated their efforts is not really significant, the significant point is that they effectively divided the military of the Allied forces into two battle fronts in hopes of weakening us. The American population was stunned, much as happened when the World Trade Center towers were attacked. It was a different time. The citizens of the United States still believed in something and they had the resolve to protect their country and go after the aggressors. Today, we seem to have lost the sense of community and the willingness to fight for what is right. We seem to have become a nation of appeasers who want to be nice to everyone in the hopes that they'll like us. It doesn't work that way. Radical Islam wants to destroy anyone who doesn't believe the way they do. Their lives mean nothing to them if they can only help the cause of Radical Islam to progress. If THEIR lives mean nothing, what do you think yours is worth? Pearl Harbor should have been a lesson for all time. Unfortunately, people have forgotten. Pearl Harbor happened when we still believed that if an enemy attacked us, that we had to go after them until they were no longer capable of attacking us again. It's a lesson that too many have forgotten.

Answer 5

Japan is a country without many resources. They need oil, iron, steel, and others. Almost all these were imported from the US. The US basically refused to trade, if the Japanese would not have bombed Pearl Harbor, the United States would probably never been involved in World War II

Answer 6

It affected us because we lost many men. ALso, we lost many ships. Pearl Harbor Day in 1941 was a sad day.

Answer 7

It created a need for the US to increase industrial production in support of the War effort.

Answer 8

Pearl Harbor saved Europe. Without it, the US may never had entered the war.