Smith 1

Ian Smith

Mrs. Treon

CP American Lit

20 December 2018

Pearl Harbor

Thesis: Pearl Harbor was a great awakening for the American people because it solidified their

decision to enter the war, caused them to reflect on the events leading up to the attack, and

America was better assembled for World War II.

I. America solidified its decision to enter the war because of Pearl Harbor.

A. USS Arizona

B. Doolittle’s Raiders

II. America realized how unprepared it was for an attack.

A. Surprise Attack

B. Insignificant amount of fire power

III. Americans were much better assembled for World War II after the tragic attack of Pearl

Harbor.

A. Battle of Coral Sea

B. Atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima

 Smith 2

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor was attacked on a Sunday early in the morning because the Japanese

thought that Americans would not be expecting an attack. It turns out that the Japanese were

completely correct because America was not prepared in the slightest for a battle, let alone at

Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was a small Harbor on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It had recently

been turned into a military base and there were very little ships protecting it. The Japanese

attacked on December 7, 1941 around 7:55 in the morning. In the end, Pearl Harbor was defeated

and the Japanese took America’s morale and destroyed it. Pearl Harbor was a great awakening

for the American people because it solidified their decision to enter the war, caused them to

reflect on the events leading up to the attack, and America was better assembled for World War

II.

America solidified its decision to enter the war because of Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor,

during the attack, only had a couple of battleships in its port because the rest of the Pacific fleet

was out on patrol. One ship was the USS Arizona that housed 1,177, crew members and sailors.

The USS Arizona was an extravagant ship, but during Pearl Harbor, it was bombed and: “Men,

some burned critically, most dazed and in shock, begin to crawl out of twisted hatches and from

smashed gun turrets” (Theodore 141). The USS Arizona was bombed by Japanese bombers and

it was completely destroyed. Since the Arizona was one of the only ships in the harbor, the

Japanese targeted it first, and it stood no chance. Very few men survived and the ones that did

would never forget that day. After the bombing stopped, American morale was greatly battered

and America’s strength was decimated until they could regroup and recharge. The Americans

were then furious at the Japanese and they were out for revenge. After Pearl Harbor was fought,

the United States started to regain its strength and they were then ready to enter the war. They
 Smith 3

did this by executing Doolittle’s Raiders. As Parrish explains, “Americans were then plunged

into World War II and they shouted the slogan ‘Remember Pearl Harbor’ ” (2). Pearl Harbor

awakened the American citizens from their neutrality from the war. The unexpected surprise

attack lead them to go into full war mode. A surplus amount of men signed up for the war and

the Americans successfully executed their first attack called Doolittle’s Raiders. The attack was

on the Japanese mainland and showed that the Americans meant business. The American morale

was greatly boosted after Doolittle’s Raiders and America put Pearl Harbor behind them.

America realized how unprepared it was for an attack. Americans were distraught after

the thousands killed at Pearl Harbor, but that feeling did not last long because America was out

for revenge. As Feldman explains, Japan thought that America would be too sad to fight back

and seek revenge after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Little did the Japanese know that they angered

almost every single American and the United States was coming for them (93). America was

very angry at the Japanese and they wanted to kill every single Japanese soldier, but before they

did this, the Americas realized that they needed to take a step back and prepare for what was

coming. The United States ramped up production in factories in the North. The war factories

were working double time pumping out materials like rifles, ships, clothes for the men. In the

south, Americans started growing more food to supply the navy and army on their voyages. After

this, America started making up for its insignificant amount of fire power. During Pearl Harbor,

the United States was majorly outgunned and outmanned and because of this thousands of good

men died. As fast as the blink of an eye the Arizona and almost all of its men are destroyed

(Theodore 140). The Arizona was one of the biggest ships in the Port at the time and the

Japanese demolished it because the Americans simply did not have enough men and war ships.

Pearl Harbor was so horrifying because Americans were not prepared in multiple categories, but
 Smith 4

one of those is fire power. The United States had not started production of heavy artillery

because for the longest time Americans were neutral in the war. Having the feeling of not being

prepared stuck with the Americans throughout the entire war. The feeling made Americans make

many technological advancements and triggered the making of the two atomic bombs. Only then

were the Americans satisfied that they were ready to face anything that the rest of the world

could throw at them.

Americans were much better assembled for World War II after the tragic attack of Pearl

Harbor. One of the first attacks that America initiated after they declared war on Japan was the

Battle of Coral Sea. This was a Naval battle between the Japanese Navy and the angered United

States Navy. The Japanese felt like they had something to prove to the rest of the world so they

were desperate to fight an “all out battle” with the few American ships that were left (Feldman,

102). After Pearl Harbor the Americans were finally prepared to face the Japanese Navy. During

the battle at sea the United States proved that they were not a country to be trifled with. The

American fleet hit the Japanese Navy hard and a lot harder than they were expecting. After the

Battle of Coral Sea the morale in America started to rise again and the Americans would use that

for the rest of the war. America was determined to be prepared for the rest of the war and in the

future. America knew that they could not be pushed and attacked like that again, so President

Roosevelt started a secret project called the Manhattan Project. This was a program to make an

atomic bomb and prove to the world that America is the strongest and to not trifle with them.

Although, Japan did not stop and as Groff explains, “The United States unleashed the greatest

destructive weapon ever known when it dropped two atomic bombs, known as Little Boy and Fat

man, on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945” (2). These bombs ended the war

as soon as they were dropped. The bombs were so powerful and destructive that radiation poured
 Smith 5

all over Japan. President Roosevelt gave to order to drop them to officially declare that the

United States of America is the strongest country in the world. Another reason as to why

America dropped the bombs was because the Soviet Union was creating their own atomic bomb

and Americans had to be the first to create it. This is how America finished a war that they were

forced into after being neutral for many years.

Through America’s decision to enter the war, it made them look back and see how

unprepared they were for and attack, Americans were much better assembled for the rest of the

war and wars in the future. America saw that they were not ready for war after the devastating

attack on Pearl Harbor. Americans used their rage and inspired one another to work harder in the

factories and encouraged men to sign up for the war. After the war, Pearl Harbor is now a very

popular tourist attraction and is a very important military base. The reason it is important is

because it is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Pearl Harbor can now house some of the

biggest military ships in the entire American Navy. People come from all over the United States

and the world to see Pearl Harbor, but more importantly, people come to see the memorials and

pay their respects towards those who lost their lives. A lot of veterans come to the memorials and

sit next to their friends or family member’s name for hours and have a drink. This is their way to

honor them. In the end, Pearl Harbors devastation could have been reduced if America was

prepared and expecting to be attacked, but it is also the reason America fought hard during the

war. Americans were angry and wanted revenge and the United States finally came out on top.
 Smith 6

Works Cited

Feldman, George. “Japan Attacks and America goes to War.” World War II Almanac, edited by

Christine Slovey, vol.1, U・X・L, 2000, pp. 83-105. U・X・L World War II Reference

Library.

Groff, Bethany. “Analysis: International Control of Atomic Energy.” Salem Press Encyclopedia,

2017. Research Starters, www.ebscohost.com.

Parrish, Ann. “Pearl Harbor.” Let’s Take a Look at Hawaii, 15 Aug. 2018. Master FILE Premier,

www.ebscohost.com.

Theodore, Taylor. Air Raid - Pearl Harbor, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1971.
 Smith 7

Works Consulted

Bremser, Sarah. “Pearl Harbor.” Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2015. Research Starters,

www.ebscohost.com.

Earle, Rice Jr. “Japan Decides on War.” The Bombing of Pearl Harbor, Lucent Books, Inc.,

2001.

World History Series.

Feldman, George. “Japan Attacks and America goes to War.” World War II Almanac, edited by

Christine Slovey, vol.1, U・X・L, 2000, pp. 83-105. U・X・L World War II Reference

Library.

Groff, Bethany. “Analysis: International Control of Atomic Energy.” Salem Press Encyclopedia,

2017. Research Starters, www.ebscohost.com.

Parrish, Ann. “Pearl Harbor.” Let’s Take a Look at Hawaii, 15 Aug. 2018. Master FILE Premier,

www.ebscohost.com.

Post, Robert P. “British Empire Joins Our Action; Canada and Netherlands In Move.” New York

Times, 26 July. 1941, Great Events, 1978, fiche 31, frame 2.

Theodore, Taylor. Air Raid - Pearl Harbor, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1971.