Attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was a main factor that smashed the already strained relationship between America and Japan. ("7facts..."). This attack sunk 4 battleships, destroyed 188 aircraft carriers and damaged 3 more battleships. 2,402 Americans were killed and another 1,247 were injured. The US declared war on Japan the next day ("Attack on Pearl Harbor..."). After the war had been fought for over three years, the US used atomic bombs to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki (After PH). Previous to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. had decided that isolation was the best policy for them and had no intention of involving themselves militarily in World War II. The US felt that the oceans on either side were enough separation and protection from the wars being fought, and did not want to get involved. But, after the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor, the first attack on American soil since the civil war, they realized that the oceans could not protect them and declared war on Japan the next day ("Attack on Pearl Harbor..."). Japan and Germany were allies during the 1940's so when U.S. Declared war on Japan, Germany declared war on America. And the toll was staggering; during WWII, over 11 million people were killed, 6 million being Jewish . WWII lasted over six years, though the US only became involved roughly halfway into it. (WWII history).