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Pearl Harbor

Definition

Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, that was attacked by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. This event led directly to U.S. involvement in World War II.

Analogy

Imagine you're at home minding your own business when suddenly someone throws a rock through your window (the attack on Pearl Harbor). You can't just sit there anymore - you have to get up and respond (U.S. entering WWII).

Related terms

World War II: The global conflict that took place between 1939-1945 involving many of the world's nations divided into two opposing military alliances: Allies vs Axis powers.

Isolationism: A policy or doctrine advocating keeping one's country's affairs separate from those of other nations by declining to enter into alliances or international economic commitments.

Hiroshima & Nagasaki: Two Japanese cities on which the U.S dropped atomic bombs in August 1945 leading to Japan’s unconditional surrender in World War II.

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Practice Questions (4)

All of these ships were stationed at Pearl Harbor except the _____
How might World War II outcomes differ if Japan had decided against attacking Pearl Harbor in December of 1941?
How might World War II have unfolded differently if Japan had not bombed Pearl Harbor?
How might the course of World War II been altered had Japan not attacked Pearl Harbor?