Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941

Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941

Document A

-Japan hoped that by advancing into the South, they could help Germany and Italy take England (a U.S. ally)

-Japan thought it likely that they could defeat China and the USSR (both of whom were trading with the U.S.)

-By attacking the South, Japan would be able to cut off supplies to America

-Japan thought that by defeating England, America would be more likely to give in to Japan's demands

Document B

-FDR paid little attention to Japan
-Japan was being treated like a small, bratty, weak child

-Japan was dissatisfied with not being taken seriously

-Tojo was running circles around the U.S.

-FDR thought he had a handle on the Pacific situation, but in reality, the situation was out of his control

-The U.S. had turned their backs to Japan, enabling Tojo to sneak up on them

Document C

-Japan saw the U.S. proposal (for peace in the Pacific) as unfair and embarassing

-They thought the U.S. had reached their decision unexpectedly

-Japan was completely unwilling to accept any of America's suggestions for negotiation

-They were ready to end the negotiations, but did not want America to know this

- Japan was under the impression that they had already suffered enough for the "sake of peace in the Pacific"
- They thought that the U.S. had been inflexible in negotiations

Document D
- Japan saw the upcoming attack as being either their downfall of the beginning of an era of glory

-Tojo acted in order to please the Emperor

-There was a certain amount of fear of retribution from the Emperor driving each of Japan's attacks

-Japan's goals were to "bring the Government and the military ever closer" and "repay" their "obligations" to the Emperor

-Japan planned to make an "all-out effort" against the Allies

Document E

- The U.S. thought that it had been in a state of peace with Japan up until the attack

-The U.S. had still been negotiating with Japan when the attack was launched

-They had, in fact, been looking towards a peaceful solution for the Pacific

-Japan sent the U.S. a response an hour after the attack on Oahu occurred

-Said response was perfectly peaceful and contained no hints at war

-Due to logistics, Japan's attacked must have been planned "days or even weeks ago"

-Japan had deliberately been deceiving the U.S.

-The U.S. declared war on Japan