Results of attack on Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

The majority of Americans were against sending American soldiers to fight in Europe or in the Pacific war zone, before the sneak attack on the US Military ships, airfields and bases of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before any declaration of war against America. The cowardly sneak attack was a knockout-punch-strategy aimed at crippling the American Navy in the Pacific and keeping America out of the fighting in the Pacific.

In fact, history has shown us that President Roosevelt wanted to help the English and French democracies fight ( and did so secretly ) but didn't want to lose the next election by making such an unpopular decision.

However, the morning after the news broke of the large numbers of dead or wounded Americans as a result of the surprise bombing, and the brutal machine-gunning of hospitals and other non-military targets, the American people changed their opinions quickly. The military struggles in Europe, Africa and Asia suddenly, were no longer "someone else's battles" to be ignored by Americans.

Long lines of eager young men at military recruiting offices across the country sprang up immediately. The vast majority of Americans wanted America to fight back immediately.

Now the President could publicly make plans to repay the Japanese military for their treachery, and also to help the European nations being rapidly swallowed up by the Hitler Dictatorship's overwhelmingly powerful military machine.

Answer 2

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into WWII, first against Japan. However, a day later, for reasons not completely understood, Germany declared war on the U.S. to bring the U.S. into the War against Germany, Italy and Japan and in alliance with Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Russia (with some other minor allies and enemies to boot). All nine battleships stationed at Pearl Harbor were sunk or damaged; three permanently, 3 for an extended period of time and 3 for a short period of time. Three cruisers, a number of destroyers and auxiliaries were also damaged. Army, Navy and Marine airfields were badly shot up and hundreds of aircraft were destroyed. The Japanese left major repair facilities, oil storage tanks, and other key naval infrastructure targets untouched - a major blunder. There were no American aircraft carriers in port and they were undamaged. The Japanese lost about three dozen aircraft during the attack, mostly in the second wave. Though the attack tilted the balance of power in the Pacific in Japan's favor, it failed in the strategic sense because it was supposed to allow the Japanese military to operate in the Pacific without challenge for at least six months. By February of 1942, American carriers were making hit and run attacks on Japanese held island chains. In April, American carriers launched Army B-25s on a raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. In May, American carriers interdicted planned attacks near Australia and New Guinea and by June, the U.S. scored a major defeat on the Pearl Harbor attack force at Midway Island. By August, 8 months after Pearl Harbor, U.S. naval and marine forces launched a major offensive in the Solomon Islands that would turn the tide of the war against Japan by the end of 1943.

Summary: Impressive tactical victory for Japan but a strategic blunder overall.