japan at war
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was a military base in the island of Hawaii which was a protectorate of the US. More than 3,500 Americans lost their lives in this surprise attack. While the US was recovering, Japan attacked the Philippines and many islands in the Pacific Ocean. By this time, Japan had control over most of Asia, Japan called this the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" . Japan was aiming of creating a new Asia that wasn't influenced by the West. Japan only did this because she needed resources. It wanted to seek resources in Indo-China controlled by France, but America warned Japan that if that happen they would inform economic sanctions. Meanwhile the US was supplying Japan with resources that were vital to the Japanese war effort. Therefore, Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō, of Japan, believed that bombing pearl harbor, would frighten the Americans and force them to accept Japanese domination. However, the opposite happen. The US declared war on Japan as a result on Pearl Harbor the next day. Being an ally of Japan Hitler declared war of the US, thus, making the US join World War 2.