Question

There were at least three reasons why the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor

Answer 1

Answer: Lack of Power, Expansion, and Natural Resources.

Explanation: 1. Lack of power. Japan wasn’t as powerful as the U.S. so they had to fight with speed. By attacking Pearl Harbor the Japanese planned on halting the U.S.’s ability to fight against the Japanese by decreasing their power. Unfortunately for the Japanese, they failed to destroy the repair yards and refueling stations so the Pacific fleet was back up in no time. 2. Restriction of natural resources. Japan wanted to expand primarily to gain natural resources that the island of Japan did not naturally have. When the U.S. Congress restricted Japan’s access to oil and other natural resources vital to any war effort Japan was forced to act quickly to not be halted by an oil shortage. 3. Expansion. Japan wanted to expand its sphere of influence and garner those sweet sweet natural resources. The war in China had been costly and as a result, Japan began looking elsewhere to replenish its dwindling natural resources. One fun fact about WW2 is while the Holocaust is the primary topic in WW2 discussions those who know a little about the Japanese history will acknowledge the Rapé of Nanking as a brutal sacking of China’s then capital Nanking. Hope this helps!