Summary
The United States and Japan engaged in the early part of the 20th century in an escalation of tensions beginning first with the implementation of many immigration laws to limit Japanese and Asian immigration in general to the
United States culminating in the Immigration Act of 1924 which banned Asian immigration all together.
The Japanese government and people viewed this an attack on their honor and referred to the day the act went into affect as a day of national shame.
Tensions grew further as Japan continued it’s systematic invasion of China in order to exploit that countries natural resources. During this same time period Japan was buying a vast amount of natural resources form the United States. Beginning in 1938 until the Japanese attacked, the United States continued to increase embargoes and limit the sale of natural resources to Japan until all economic ties were eventually cut off in 1940. Japan realizing this as a threat to her plans of expanding her empire begins to develop plans to execute a preemptive strike against the United States by bombing Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7th 1941. This attack is a huge strategic success accomplishing it’s goal of crippling the United States naval forces in the Pacific. However, this success is also a huge mistake because it brings the United States with her vast manpower and resources to bear against the Axis.
The aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor reignited racial hatred for Asians in general and in 1942 President Roosevelt signed into law Executive Order No. 9066 which called for the unconstitutional interment of American citizens of Asian descent in camps for the duration of the war. This interment was illegal and a severe breach of Japanese-Americans civil rights and would not be resolved until President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Law of 1988 into law and issued both a formal apology to the survivors of these internment camp and authorized the payment of reparations.
Below is a short film that discusses the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The United States and Japan engaged in the early part of the 20th century in an escalation of tensions beginning first with the implementation of many immigration laws to limit Japanese and Asian immigration in general to the
United States culminating in the Immigration Act of 1924 which banned Asian immigration all together.
The Japanese government and people viewed this an attack on their honor and referred to the day the act went into affect as a day of national shame.
Tensions grew further as Japan continued it’s systematic invasion of China in order to exploit that countries natural resources. During this same time period Japan was buying a vast amount of natural resources form the United States. Beginning in 1938 until the Japanese attacked, the United States continued to increase embargoes and limit the sale of natural resources to Japan until all economic ties were eventually cut off in 1940. Japan realizing this as a threat to her plans of expanding her empire begins to develop plans to execute a preemptive strike against the United States by bombing Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7th 1941. This attack is a huge strategic success accomplishing it’s goal of crippling the United States naval forces in the Pacific. However, this success is also a huge mistake because it brings the United States with her vast manpower and resources to bear against the Axis.
The aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor reignited racial hatred for Asians in general and in 1942 President Roosevelt signed into law Executive Order No. 9066 which called for the unconstitutional interment of American citizens of Asian descent in camps for the duration of the war. This interment was illegal and a severe breach of Japanese-Americans civil rights and would not be resolved until President Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Law of 1988 into law and issued both a formal apology to the survivors of these internment camp and authorized the payment of reparations.
Below is a short film that discusses the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.