Thesis on "Pearl Harbor"

Thesis 5 pages (1910 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941 and subsequent involvement of the U.S. In the second world war may have been a surprise to the Americans at that time, but the incident which began the Japan-U.S. conflict and ultimately destroyed the Axis was sure to happen the way the political social and economic progress of Japan was changing during the beginning of the 1900s. Japan and the U.S. were in a collision course to each other and as it were observed by Michael Slackman that "in fact, the U.S. government had been waiting in suspense for the Japanese to initiate hostilities." (Slackman, 1990)

It was thus a situation that was the result of the fast changes in the world, Development of Japan and the slight that Japan perceived that it suffered at the hands of European powers. Thus the conflict was the result of Japan's need to assert itself and protect its empire from the changing face of the world -- that ultimately prompted the 'Tora' at Pearl Harbor. This prompts us to study why Japan had to take such a step, and as put by the commander of the Japanese navy -- 'Wake a sleeping giant?' Thus the research question becomes: "Why did the Japanese attack and why was not the U.S. completely prepared for the attack?"

The Political Background:

The Political and social events that led to the Second World War:

The problem with Japan was not only its internal need but also the attitude that other powers showed it. Thus the racial attitudes of United States and the colonial powers of Europe created a situation where Japan was isolated even as a great power. (Slackman, 1990) That there was not only influence of the events of Europe that influenced Japanese thinking, but the Japanese thinkers were partial to Europe and wary of the American concepts and the Kyoto philosopher and the thinkers behind Japan's progress favored Europe and this was because the Japanese believe that America's hegemony can be resisted only with the European tradition of radical criticism. (Williams, 2004)

Thus the "Pacific War was a war of military expansion by both imperial Japan and the United States. Japanese aggression was never the whole truth about the Pacific War, but the ideology of American exceptionalism has blinded us to any other truth." (Williams, 2004) While on one hand the Japanese were forced to try out a new form of existence that could counter the problems they faced in the world, the American government took a posture that further aggravated the situation. This conflict thus developed from the perceived and real threat to Japan. In analyzing this view we have to examine the Japanese context in a greater detail.

The Japanese Agenda:

The Japanese who began industrialization form 1856 followed the German Model. That required them to be aggressive in the world market, and secondly find more space in the Asian region as hinterland. Thus the Pacific was seen both by the Americans and the Japanese "as an adjunct to the main area of concern." (Gailey, 1995) Thus the Japanese military believed that the United States will one day use force to stop the Japanese from their goals in Asia. With this view the American Pacific fleet units near Japanese home waters at Pearl Harbor was sought to be destroyed at some future time when hostilities began. (Gailey, 1995) As stated before the German model found favor with the Japanese who even molded the military based on the Germans. "In 1871, a general staff modeled upon the Prussian system was created. The new army purposely retained many of the rules of honor and devotion that had governed the samurai." (Gailey, 1995)

Thus a blend of Japanese system of martial legacy was blended to the Prussian art of war, with the aristocrats of the Choshu and Satsuma clans being the leaders. Though the preprations for a coming confrontation were seen by the military of Japan, Japan did not seem as a nation ready to confront the U.S. directly even when the World War began. We can see that the civil government of Japan did not favor war and aggression. However the Civil government did not last long. Japan had a civil government till 1930s. In 1932 Japanese Army created clashes in Chinese Manchuria. The Japanese annexed Manchuria and the conflict between the Japanese and Chinese troops thus must have come as the indicator for Japan's expansion plans. Sino-Japanese war was in parallel too the World War and it concluded in 1945. (Slackman, 1990)

The Japanese in seeking the logic for expansion could easily cite the aggression especially after the World War I was a just means to achieve their end, This was also the need, on account of the emigration of Japanese having been curtailed by the immigration policies which were anti-Japanese of other countries. Consequently the world market that was ruled by tariff and taxes and treaties were also closed to the Japanese. (Beasley, 1963)

Thus the period literature of the time shows Hashimoto Kingoro of the Sakurakai stating "We have already said that there are only three ways left to Japan to escape from the pressure of surplus population - emigration, advance into world markets and expansion of territory…. What should Japan do when two of the three doors have been closed against her?" (Beasley, 1963)

Thus Japan had woken up to the need, both of expansion which was quietly carried out into China and domination of the Asian markets which was sought to be done by joining the forces that in the days seemed to be strong enough to create a market and might in the world in the 1930s. Nazi Germany was promising and thus the alliance came about. It was a warning bell for America, whose fleets stationed at Pearl Harbor was already an irritant. But America at the time did not heed the auguries.

The United States and the War in General:

America did never have a clear policy for the Pacific. Activities in this region by the U.S. authorities could at best be called "mere posturing." (Gailey, 1995) Added to that activities like sending the Great White Fleet on cruise in 1907 was simply to announce that the United States is a great power. Thus Theodore Roosevelt's aim was to create a scare in Japan, and Japan was the biggest Asian military power. We can note that this posturing had negative consequences and America never took the Pacific issues in serious vein. (Gailey, 1995)

With regard to the Second World War, America chose to be aloof. It was only with the attack on Pearl Harbor that America entered the war. This stand made the country unprepared for a blitz type attack. "America's isolationism, general ignorance of the situation in the Far East, arrogance, and -in the late 1930s -- concern with developments in Europe all contributed to its woeful lack of preparation to meet the well-planned and executed simultaneous attacks against pre-selected targets by the Japanese military." (Gailey, 1995) Thus the Pearl Harbor was the result of Japanese perception of a threat by the effective but goal less posturing of the U.S. And followed by the alliance of the Axis powers. Thus we find that at the time of the attack America was totally unprepared.

The Pearl Harbor Incident:

On examining the events of the fateful day, it becomes clear that there was no inkling of the impending attack from the American side. Dispatches of the day show that there were preliminary attacks by the Japanese that were merely reported as enemy intrusions. Thus the Report of Action of 7 December 1941 shows that the indication of the attack began by the attack on a "hostile submarine off the entrance of Pearl Harbor." This was followed by "Enemy Air Raid -- Not Drill." (Trefousse, 1958)

Thus began the incessant bombing by dive bombers, high altitude bombers, left a lot of vessels crippled and personnel dead at the harbor. (Trefousse, 1958) The first mistake was to base such a huge fleet within the striking distance of the hostile Japanese. From the termination of the First World War, the American fleet was stationed there by President Wilson. It is interesting to note that before the Second World War, in 1932 a mock attack and testing of security at Pearl Harbor by Admiral Yarnell showed that Pearl Harbor base was very much unsafe for the "fleet while anchored in harbor." (Morgenstern, 1947)

That was the fundamental reason. The major reason was that America was not prepared to spend on military owing to the recession that had hit the nation at the time. The depression caused the urgent need to address the domestic problems that plagued the country at that time, and this included unemployment and many other economic problems that required allotment of resources. This made it an opportune time to demand increased military spending. Thus the military requirements were put off and even when the World War II began, the perception of the people… READ MORE

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