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"A Day Which Will Live in Infamy"
Remembering American Unity
on the 79th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor
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Above: Sailors look on amid wrecked planes as the USS Shaw explodes, December 7, 1941
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Attack on Pearl Harbor
Early in the morning on December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese bombers descended upon the Pearl Harbor naval base in Oahu, Hawaii for an unprovoked and surprise attack on U.S. soil.
By the end of the day, 2,403 Americans would be dead. Most were junior servicemen, but the dead also included civilian men, women, and children. Additionally, over a thousand Americans were injured and several aircraft and battleships were destroyed.
Despite being caught by surprise, Americans fought back to the best of their abilities. Servicemen returned fire and citizens rushed to help the wounded and put out fires. Local firefighters struggled to recover bodies, save the wounded, and extinguish fires as bullets and bombs rained down from above. These brave men remain the only civilian firefighters to have received Purple Hearts.
America's Entry into World War II
The attack on Pearl Harbor was meant to destroy American morale and prevent American interference on the Pacific front. The Japanese military was planning a resource grab on oil and rubber in the South Pacific and had hoped that an attack on Pearl Harbor would hinder America's ability to prevent Japanese expansion.
Prior to this attack, Americans were deeply divided on whether to get involved in the war in Europe. Many Americans saw World War I as a failure and were not eager or ready to get involved in another European war, or any war for that matter.
But after the bombing, Americans were resolute. On December 8, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan.
Standing by its ally, Germany (along with Italy) subsequently declared war on the United States, leading us into war in both Europe and the Pacific.
From Deeply Divided to a Nation United
Previously unprepared and skeptical of involvement in global affairs in 1941, the United States suddenly found itself fighting three powerful enemies. In response, Americans banded together in a united effort to protect our nation and our way of life.
Americans focused resources on military needs. In addition to those drafted, many thousands of men, determined to protect and defend their country and families, rushed to enlist after the attack. At great effort, the nation's industries shifted from peacetime manufacturing to wartime production. With the nation's men in the military, women bolstered the industrial workforce, with an especially large number of women working in aviation.
The entire nation very quickly turned as one towards the war effort. From a nation ill-equipped to fight a major battle, we became the arsenal of all the Allies. A resilient and determined American people met the challenges of World War II to a degree that our enemies never suspected.
On this day in history, 79 years ago, Americans showed the strength of a united front and eventually led our allies to victory.
At the Jack Miller Center, we believe in our nation and our people. While the American people will always have political differences, we should stand united to protect American values.
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"Powerful and resourceful gangsters have banded together to make war upon the whole human race. Their challenge has now been flung at the United States of America. The Japanese have treacherously violated the longstanding peace between us. Many American soldiers and sailors have been killed by enemy action. American ships have been sunk; American airplanes have been destroyed.
"The Congress and the people of the United States have accepted that challenge. Together with other free peoples, we are now fighting to maintain our right to live among our world neighbors in freedom, in common decency, without fear of assault."
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History can always teach us something about the present, but only if it remains a priority. Without knowledge of our past, we have no basis to make important decisions about our country's future.
JMC supports those teachers who are championing education in America's history and its founding principles. Our growing network of nearly 1,000 dedicated professors are making a difference on hundreds of campuses across the country. So far, they have taught more than one million students. Will you help us reach more?
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About the Jack Miller Center
The Jack Miller Center is a 501(c)(3) public charity with the mission to reinvigorate education in America's founding principles and history. We work to advance the teaching and study of America's history, its political and economic institutions, and the central principles, ideas and issues arising from the American and Western traditions—all of which continue to animate our national life.
We support professors and educators through programs, resources, fellowships and more to help them teach our nation's students.
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