Hello all, I am wondering what the consensus is on the reason why Pearl Harbor happened and why. I believe I have the right idea but am curious what you all think about this significant historical event.
What is your reasoning as to why the Japanese attacked?
Well in the interest in teasing out what exactly you are wondering about it might helpful to elaborate OP.
Are you asking:
Why Imperial Japan, and the US/UK and others came into conflict in the first place.
Why the conflict came to the point of outright war in late 1941?
Or why the centerpiece of Japan's opening move was a decision to attack the US naval and military presence on Oahu?
All might generally be considered as the reason 'why' Pearl Harbor happened, but involve very different answers in their own ways.