Pearl Harbor was an event that took place on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. On December 7, 1941, at 7:55 a.m., 360 fighter planes of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force carried out an unexpected attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base housing the bulk of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. After the attack, most of the ships were deemed completely non-operational. This was a shock to Americans who had adopted an isolationist policy since the end of World War I. The Americans lost 2,600 people and another 1,200 were seriously injured as a result of the attack. The Japanese, on the other hand, lost thirty planes and less than a hundred men. It was a tragedy for the United States, but more importantly, none of the American aircraft carriers were damaged; this being due to the fact that they were participating in training exercises at the time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The Japanese justified the attack on Pearl Harbor by their desire for British Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines to expand their sphere of influence. across the Pacific and East Asia. The Japanese took great inspiration for this attack from similar actions by the British at the Battle of Taranto, where the Royal Navy used a similar approach of naval and air weapons to knock out the Italian fleet, ultimately ending their threat in the sea Mediterranean. The Japanese knew they could not fight a battle of attrition with the United States. They believed, like the British, that if they could deliver a fatal blow to the American fleet, it could bring them to the negotiating table. Therefore, Admiral Yamamoto and his war planners ultimately opted for an approach similar to that used in the Battle of Taranto, which they studied intensively; Ultimately, this approach failed to achieve its goal. Although a loss for the Americans, with significant setbacks due to the loss of so many capital ships, the attack strategically failed to achieve its objectives. With no loss of U.S. aircraft carriers, no destruction of the fuel depot on the island, and no refloating and repair of some Capitol ships, the U.S. Navy was able to provide a combat presence over the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Pearl Harbor event also had a huge impact. impact on the American economy. Once the attack was over, the country decided it was time to move on to war. It says on Pearl Harbor.com: “After the smoke cleared from Pearl Harbor, the entire country went into war mode.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared, “No matter how long it takes us to defeat this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will achieve absolute victory.” The event caused the Americans to unite and fight the Japanese. It is said on military.com that "Pearl Harbor united a divided nation and resulted in a wholehearted American." When the Pearl Harbor event occurred, all Americans were ready for war. USnews.com says that "America is moving quickly to put itself on a war footing." The American economy changes in a matter of days. It is said on visitpearlharbor.org that "the American economy has rapidly become a war economy." To help the military, taxes were increased. It says on visitpearlharbor.org that "taxes were raised to help pay for the war, war bonds were issued, and even banks bought billions of dollars in bonds to support the war."..