They immediately made the war far more difficult for themselves by bringing the US into the war. If they were bent on destroying Americans why didn’t they wait until the war was almost won (if they could have won) then attack?
Would the US not have entered the war if not for the attack on pearl?
John
Because USA had imposed an oil embargo on Japan as a direct result of Japan's expansionism and appalling atrocities in China.
The Japanese military figured that the only way to lift the oil embargo was either through diplomatic negotiations or through war. Diplomatic negotiations were tried but basically got nowhere so the more militaristic elements within the Japanese government and military got the upper hand and convinced the emperor to launch a crippling blow against the U.S navy.
The successful British attack against the Italians at Taranto in 1940 convinced the Japanese military that it was possible.
FDR knew an attack was more than likely coming but not exactly where or when. Crucial mistakes were made on Hawaii on the day of the attack. The radar returns (signals) were ignored and presumed to be an incoming flight of American B-17s. A couple of fighters should have been sent out to make sure and radio back. That could have got the U>S aircraft into the air and limited the damage to both the ships at Pearl and the airfields and oil stocks ...All incompetence and complacency. There was no conspiracy to allow it to happen.
If the Pearl harbour attack had not occurred then FDR probably would have stayed out of the war until American interests were directly threatened or a large American passenger ship sunk, but USA would eventually have entered the war at some point.
garry
should be asking why did america allow pearl harbour to be attacked , they new the japanese would attack .!!!!
denlp96
Because thats' where our ships were.
Anonymous
Japanese Imperialism had designs on controlling the Pacific. The US presented the greatest threat to prevent this. Pearl was the obvious target to do the most damage w/ a sneaky first strike.
Anonymous
Because they thought that by destroying the US's Pacific fleet they would knock the US out, as concerns Japanese ambitions.