Why was the US caught off guard at Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

Because we had absolutely no reason to expect it. Michael Montagne You might want to read up a little on the history or Pearl Harbor. There was every reason to expect an attack was coming. The night before when "magic" intercepted a 14 point message to their diplomat Roosevelt declared "this means war". He predicted we would be at war before the next monday. Also before this, magic had intercepted and decoded many messages hinting at an attack at pear harbor. Look up the "bomb plot" information where spies were asked to divide the harbor into sections, label all ships when they were in port, when they berthed next to one another etc. There are many, many examples of hints of war. All you have to do is look it up.

Answer 2

Because they did not expect that the Japanese would turn against us after we "tried" to send them a peace treaty. i bet if pearl harbor got hit again you would be surpised because no one would know why they did it._ashli

AnswerThere was also a certain amount of complacency on the part of the US because Pearl was so far away from Japan. Given the technological limitations of the time, the raid on Pearl Harbor was a daring, if unprovoked, attack.

Answer 3

Pearl Harbor was a military base which was attacked on December 7, 1941 by the Japanese. It was a surprise because it came very early on a Sunday morning, when the soldiers were still in bed.

Answer 4

Most US personnel believed an attack would be upon the Philippines, not Pearl Harbor.

Answer 5

because back then radar did not pick up the difference between enemy aircraft or allied aircraft, so the US thought that it was THEIR planes coming in, and didn't build up a retaliation.

Answer 6

before japan attacked America a japan representative promised FDR that they would not attack America

4 days later japan did a suprise attack on America's navy ships

Answer 7

the Japanese diplomats were negotiating with Washington when the sneak attack by japan was launched on Pearl Harbor...................