USA HISTORY

AMERICAN IMPERIALISM(1890 1919)

THE UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR I

[SOURCES]
As it was holding peace talks with the United States, Japan was secretly planning an attack on Pearl Harbor.

(A) ** True

(B) False

EXPLANATIONS BELOW

Concept note-1: -On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Since early 1941 the U.S. had been supplying Great Britain in its fight against the Nazis. It had also been pressuring Japan to halt its military expansion in Asia and the Pacific.

Concept note-2: -The Japanese strategy was to destroy the invader’s landing vessels before they hit the beaches. For this purpose, Japan had reserved about 5, 000 conventional aircraft and a variety of suicide vehicles, including about 5, 500 kamikaze planes, 1, 300 suicide submarines, and several hundred piloted bombs.

Concept note-3: -To a certain extent, the conflict between the United States and Japan stemmed from their competing interests in Chinese markets and Asian natural resources. While the United States and Japan jockeyed peaceably for influence in eastern Asia for many years, the situation changed in 1931.

Concept note-4: -How did American actions contribute to Japan’s decision to attack Pearl Harbor? America’s actions of embargoing tools and raw materials that Japan needed upset the Japanese to the point where, during prolonged negotiations, they attacked Pearl Harbor.