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[[Image:pearlharborattack.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Battleship ''[[USS Arizona]]'' burns after her magazine was hit by a Japanese bomb.]]

[[Image:pearlharborattack.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Battleship ''[[USS Arizona]]'' burns after her magazine was hit by a Japanese bomb.]]

'''The Attack on Pearl Harbor''' was a military air strike by naval forces of the Japanese Empire on the morning of December 7, 1941, and designed to cripple the U.S. Fleet, enabling Japan to have a free and unfettered access to much of the western Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia. The attack brought the United States to declare war against Japan the next day.

'''The Attack on Pearl Harbor''' was a military air strike by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] on the morning of December 7, 1941, and designed to cripple the U.S. Fleet, enabling Japan to have a free and unfettered access to much of the western [[Pacific Ocean]] and Southeast [[Asia]]. The attack brought the United States to declare war against Japan the next day.

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

The road to war between Japan and the United States began in the 1930s when differences over China drove the two nations apart. In 1931 Japan conquered Manchuria, which until then had been part of China. In 1937 Japan began a long and ultimately unsuccessful campaign to conquer the rest of China. In 1940, the Japanese government allied their country with Nazi Germany in the Axis Alliance, and, in the following year, occupied all of Indochina.

The road to war between Japan and the United States began in the 1930s when differences over [[China]] drove the two nations apart. In 1931 Japan conquered [[Manchuria]], which until then had been part of China. In 1937 Japan began a long and ultimately unsuccessful campaign to conquer the rest of China. In 1940, the Japanese government allied their country with [[Nazi Germany]] in the [[Axis]] Alliance, and, in the following year, occupied all of Indochina.

The United States, which had important political and economic interests in East Asia, was alarmed by these Japanese moves. The U.S. increased military and financial aid to China, embarked on a program of strengthening its military power in the Pacific, and cut off the shipment of oil and other raw materials to Japan.

The United States, which had important political and economic interests in East Asia, was alarmed by these Japanese moves. The U.S. increased military and financial aid to China, embarked on a program of strengthening its military power in the Pacific, and cut off the shipment of oil and other raw materials to Japan.