December 7, 1941. By: Aleyah Hooks

There are many people who know that WWII started in the year 1939, but many don’t realize that was a full two years before the United States joined the war. It wasn’t until the Attack on Pearl Harbor that the president felt the U.S. needed to join it.  

The attack occurred on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii. For those who don’t know what this event was or how the base was attacked, it was a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet by the Japanese Navy that killed over 2,400 Americans and wounded nearly 1,200 more. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto used a “surprise attack” tactic by sending in aircraft without any type of warning, flying over the harbor at 7:55 a.m. Launched from four aircraft carriers, a force of 353 Japanese aircraft units attacked in two waves. The Attack damaged/sunk eighteen battleships and resulted in the loss of 188 U.S. aircraft.  

At this time, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President of the United States, and he made the ultimate decision for the U.S. to get involved in the war after Japan attacked us. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the US citizens experienced shock, fear, and a newfound patriotism which led them to the declaration of war. The traumatic event provoked many to join the military to contribute to war effort while also creating a climate of suspicion that resulted in the unjust internment of Japanese Americans.