Pearl Harbor
During the early 20th century, tensions between America and the Japanese were on the rise especially with numerous countries warring around the world soon leading up to what would be called World War II. There has been speculations on Japanese’s actions and oppression of China and their alliance with Germany and Italy as well as America’s response towards Japanese actions. America’s reactions were meant to be neutral, but Japan felt otherwise. Japan’s conquest in Southeast Asia called the attention of America, to only result in economic sanctions. When Japan became more ambitious in their conquest, US President Roosevelt imposed an oil embargo on Japan risking the downfall of their economy. American Government’s Operation “Magic” also translated and intercepted Japanese messages to and from Japanese military, government and espionage almost a year before the attack. This might have been a preemptive strike because the Japan’s response was a more direct preemptive strike on December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor. Was the attack on Pearl Harbor the start of America’s activity in World War II or were they already involved?
America was involved into Japanese affairs months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, and possibly was also preventable. As Japan’s conquest of Southeast Asia continued on into Indochina, America’s President Franklin D. Roosevelt or FDR decided it was time to take action. At first, they would try to ally with Japan and declare Indochina as a neutral country. It was when America imposed economic sanctions, froze all Japanese assets in America and called for an oil embargo on Japan that ultimately cut off most of Japan’s supplies and resources for a war. (https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/pearl-harbor) It took Roosevelt all these indirect responses to learn that “a policy of forbearance toward the government in Tokyo, instead of having a salutary effect, simply resulted in ever-more aggressive behavior on the part of the Imperial Japanese Army” (http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/fall/butow.html). The small actions FDR took against Japanese eventually built up and war was on the minds of both sides already. Operation Magic was well underway before Japanese orders and secret messages regarding naval bases such as Pearl Harbor and locations of stationed ships were being intercepted already.
America was involved into Japanese affairs months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, and possibly was also preventable. As Japan’s conquest of Southeast Asia continued on into Indochina, America’s President Franklin D. Roosevelt or FDR decided it was time to take action. At first, they would try to ally with Japan and declare Indochina as a neutral country. It was when America imposed economic sanctions, froze all Japanese assets in America and called for an oil embargo on Japan that ultimately cut off most of Japan’s supplies and resources for a war. (https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/pearl-harbor) It took Roosevelt all these indirect responses to learn that “a policy of forbearance toward the government in Tokyo, instead of having a salutary effect, simply resulted in ever-more aggressive behavior on the part of the Imperial Japanese Army” (http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/fall/butow.html). The small actions FDR took against Japanese eventually built up and war was on the minds of both sides already. Operation Magic was well underway before Japanese orders and secret messages regarding naval bases such as Pearl Harbor and locations of stationed ships were being intercepted already.
Operation Magic was Washington’s attempt to break military and government codes during World War II due to a stolen copy of the Japanese Imperial Navy Secret Operating Code in the previous World War I. Most of the intercepted and translated messages would sometimes be related to Pacific bases and US Government did conclude that Pearl Harbor, Hickam Island and Ford Island were among the locations Japanese forces were assault an attack, however they could not act on these messages alone as none could ever be taken as guaranteed going to happen. Even one telegram, known as “Telegram 83” was believed to be an order to a Japanese espionage in Hawaii asking to divide the waters of Pearl Harbor into 5 and locate which ships were stationed where, which almost shouts a possible bombing grid being placed onto Pearl Harbor. This was translated by Magic on October 9, almost 2 months of the actual bombing of Pearl Harbor. The translation was not taken seriously by multiple officers, and it was only until after the bombing of Pearl Harbor did Operation Magic prove to be a valuable asset and exceed its expected use rate. America’s use of Operation Magic almost a year before Pearl Harbor already showed distrust in Japanese affairs, however America held an image of forbearance and did not resort to any direct actions and waited for Japan’s first strike.
Pearl Harbor was only one battle and it was a huge success for Japan as they moved on to more successes in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, however it was this that ultimately caused the awakening of the “Sleeping Giant” in World War II. After Japan’s attack on the US, Germany and Italy followed their ally into war and also declared war on the US bringing them into World War II on the fight against fascism. The Sleeping Giant would be the one of the deciding factors of who wins in World War II which is how that term came to be, and although Japan won the battle, they ultimately loss the whole war for their allies as well with an even more catastrophic ending of the atomic bombing.
Pearl Harbor was only one battle and it was a huge success for Japan as they moved on to more successes in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, however it was this that ultimately caused the awakening of the “Sleeping Giant” in World War II. After Japan’s attack on the US, Germany and Italy followed their ally into war and also declared war on the US bringing them into World War II on the fight against fascism. The Sleeping Giant would be the one of the deciding factors of who wins in World War II which is how that term came to be, and although Japan won the battle, they ultimately loss the whole war for their allies as well with an even more catastrophic ending of the atomic bombing.