Pearl Harbor
... The Japanese military had many reasons for their attack on Pearl Harbor, including stratagems, which would give them more time to develop a navy and give them a greater ability to wage wars in Southern Asia and China. ... The president used all resources, intelligence given to him by the military, and opportunities available to him both before and after Pearl Harbor to prevent an attack on American soil; one which would inevitably lead them into World War II. Pearl Harbor is a land locked harbor, situated on the coast of Oahu Island, Hawaii. ... The first step to setting up a naval base in Hawaii was the US annexing it in 1900, which assisted the government in the initial base construction as well as harbor improvements and fortifications later down the line as the war started. Pearl Harbor was still a very new base when it was named the base of operations in the west, so it had neither the personnel nor the aircraft to properly defend such an establishment. ... Unlike Germany, the Japanese government was blamed for many of the things that happened during World War II and they had been fairly friendly with the United States before Pearl Harbor. ... The night before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the first 13 points were sent. ... The day of the attack on Pearl Harbor was one of the longest ones that this country has ever faced. ... This message was transmitted sometime in the early morning, but didn’t reach Pearl Harbor until after the bombing had already started, leaving the entire base completely unprepared. ... Ken Taylor, a navy pilot who lived through and fought in Pearl Harbor, described the feeling of waking up to the blasts as a confusing experience. ... A total of 5 destroyers had been sunk at Pearl Harbor; however, another 5 had been sunk while out on patrol. ... The tragedy in Pearl Harbor sparked much controversy and catapulted the United States into World War II. ... The speech persuaded Congress to declare that the attack on Pearl Harbor was unprovoked. ... He went on to say that the group of attacks on Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, Wake Island, Midway Island, the Philippine Islands, and Pearl Harbor shows a surprise offensive strike against the entire Pacific area and the span between Hawaii and Japan makes it apparent that the attack was planned for days, or even weeks. ... In addition, aides and other staff close to Churchill described him as “All over himself for information about Japanese intentions” on the days before Pearl Harbor, so it is feasible that he kept the information from the president as a way to get America into the war on the side of the allies. There are many reasons for the attack on Pearl Harbor. ... Through the stratagems highlighted here and more, Franklin Delano Roosevelt used all available resources, intelligence given to him by the military, and opportunities available to him both before and after Pearl Harbor to prevent an attack on American soil, one that was the catalyst for the United States entering the war.