In 1940 the US, Great Britain, and the Netherlands had initiated a total embargo of oil and scrap metal to Japan in response to Japan invading French Indochina. Standing in opposition to Japanese conquest of what Japan’s leaders termed “the Southern Resource Area” was the United States.
Since Emperor Hirohito’s Japan wanted to expand in territory and power like some European countries, it needed natural resources, like oil and aluminum found in the Netherlands East Indies. The majority of the Pacific area’s military commands were headquartered there because of growing apprehensions regarding an aggressive Japanese presence. Short of the Army were in command of the fleet and troops on the ground, respectively. On the southern end of Oahu, Pearl Harbor held a 22,000 acre naval base. That same day, with congressional approval, America entered into World War II.
Roosevelt delivered his “Day of Infamy Speech” to American citizens, informing them that this occurred despite the fact that the US was in the midst of talks to keep peace with Japan. On Decemthe Japanese launched a surprise attack on the US Naval Base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, using bombers, torpedo bombers and midget submarines.