Changes

In the fall of 1941, the American public was still against joining the war.  But while FDR was focused on Europe, Japan was increasingly aggressive in the Far East and planned to attack us.  There is evidence that our code-breakers had broken the Japanese codes used to communicate their military messages, and that we knew Japan was going to attack Pearl Harbor.  FDR did nothing to prevent the attack, and news of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941 outraged the American public against Japan.  The Japanese sunk most of the American fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor (several big boats were saved due to their tardiness in arriving to their port).  FDR addressed Congress the next day, describing December 7th as "a date which will live in infamy."<ref>http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/P/fr32/speeches/ph.htm</ref>

In the fall of 1941, the American public was still against joining the war.  But while FDR was focused on Europe, Japan was increasingly aggressive in the Far East and planned to attack us.  There is evidence that our code-breakers had broken the Japanese codes used to communicate their military messages, and that we knew Japan was going to attack Pearl Harbor.  FDR did nothing to prevent the attack, and news of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941 outraged the American public against Japan.  The Japanese sunk most of the American fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor (several big boats were saved due to their tardiness in arriving to their port).  FDR addressed Congress the next day, describing December 7th as "a date which will live in infamy."<ref>http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/P/fr32/speeches/ph.htm</ref>

The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th).  Only one congressman (who was the first woman elected to the House) voted against the declaration of war.  Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too.  That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war.

The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th).  Only one congressman (who had been the first woman ever elected to the House of Representatives) voted against the declaration of war.  Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too.  That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war.

The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism.  FDR forcibly moved Americans of Japanese descent in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship.  The Supreme Court upheld this internment despite an apparent violation of constitutional rights in ''Korematsu v. United States'' (1944).  This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in ''Worcester v. Georgia''.

The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism.  FDR forcibly moved Americans of Japanese descent in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship.  The Supreme Court upheld this internment despite an apparent violation of constitutional rights in ''Korematsu v. United States'' (1944).  This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in ''Worcester v. Georgia''.