Why did we go to war with Germany when it was Japan who attached us at  Pearl Harbor?
479295
DJ Noek has it right.  Germany was Japan's ally. We declared war on Japan immediately, so Germany declared war on us.  So then we declared war on Germany.
389276
The attack on Pearl Harbor and the resulting war between Japan and the Allied powers appears to be the culmination of a series of events and decisions that began in the 19th century. By the mid-19th century, western imperialism had come to east Asia. Various European powers had taken control of India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and various islands in the Pacific. After defeating the Qin Dynasty of China in the Opium Wars, several western imperial governments forcibly exploited China's resources. The Japanese were shocked by the European defeat of the Qin dynasty and the resulting conquest of Chinese territory and resources. It was also around this time, in 1853, that Commodore Perry appeared in Tokyo Bay with the "Black Ships" and ordered the isolationist, Tokugawa shogunate government of Japan to open trade with the west. The U.S. appeared to support the other western powers in their exploitation of China, even sending troops to help put-down the Boxer Rebellion. The U.S. also gained control, through victories in the Spanish American War, of several significant territories in the east Asia/Pacific area by the end of the 19th century, most notably the Phillipines and Guam.\n\nIn 1868, Japan's Tokugawa shogunate was forcibly replaced with a new government model during the Meiji restoration. Japan's new government's decided to try to achieve parity with the western powers, believing that the only other alternative was helpless victimization, as had happened to the Qin Dynasty.\n\nThus, Japan embarked on a period of significant economic, political, and military expansion (citation pending). In order to fund this expansion, resource-poor Japan embarked on a series of their own imperialistic moves that brought it into conflict with neighboring powers. In 1894, Japan defeated the then current Chinese government and took control of Taiwan. In 1904, Japan defeated Russian forces and took control of Russian territories in and around China and the Korean peninsula. In 1910, Japan took all of the Korean peninsula. Japan supported the UK and U.S. side in World War I and, as a reward, was awarded control of former German possessions in the central Pacific. In 1931, Japan forcibly established a "puppet" state in Manchuria. In 1937, having made further progress in constructing a large and modern navy and army, Japan initiated a large-scale of invasion of mainland China, attacking from Manchuria and at several points along China's Pacific coast.\n\nJapan's invasion of China now appeared to directly threaten the assets and territories of several of the western powers, including Great Britain (UK) and the U.S., who were strong allies. The move also threatened the U.S.' "Open Door Policy" concerning China. The U.S. and UK responded at first with diplomatic pressure, condemning Japan's aggression in China. Japan didn't back down, but instead continued it's military campaign in China and formally aligned itself with the Axis Powers in 1940. The U.S. responded with economic sanctions, including partial or full embargoes of scrap metal and gasoline, renouncing previously-signed trade agreements between the two countries, and closing the Panama Canal to Japanese shipping. Again, the Japanese didn't back down and, in 1941, invaded northern Indo-China. The U.S. response was to freeze Japanese assets and initiated a complete oil embargo.\n\nOil was the most valuable and crucial resource that Japan required. In addition to fueling Japanese military operations, oil was vital for core economic activities. 80% of Japan's oil imports came from the U.S. Diplomatic negotiations climaxed with the Hull note of November 26, 1941, which Prime Minister Hideki Tojo described to his cabinet as an ultimatum. Therefore, Japan now had an important decision to make- either to comply with the U.S. and UK demands and back down from its aggression in China and the surrounding areas, or go to war w
870591
It was the US entry in the race to develop the atomic bomb. If we hadn't done it, the Germans or the Japanese would have because they were only a bit behind us in the race. It was inevitable that it would be developed one way or another.
28818
After WWI the victors forced Germany to pay reparations from the war. This forced Germany into a huge defecit and resulted in the rising of Hitler. After WWII many learned the lesson from WWI and determined that we should provide assistance to the countries most devastated by the war, one being Japan. America and other countries provided money and instituted a democracy in Japan. The people of Japan were able to take advantage of this and rise to become the nation they are today.
975223
Unofficially, the US was involved with WWII from the beginning, by sending supplies to the Allies.\nOfficially, in 1941.
94613
All I know is my dad was attached to the Chemical Corps in early WW2, and he talked about storing tons of phosgene and mustard gas somewhere on Hawaii.Probably the only reason we didnt use it on the Japenese, was we didnt want the Germans to use gas on us. (Hitler was scared of gas, he was Gassed twice in WW1) By the time the Germans were defeated we we doing a good job on Japan with firebombs and later the atomic bomb.
220027
Japan Invaded Shanghai, which was formerly held by the int'l concession (USA and UK) and the french concession. Japan used Chinese citizens as tests for biochemical activities, and at one time planned to bild a zepplin with gas to poison target californian cities. Oh, and Japan had a mutual war pact with the nazis. Other than pearl harbor and the previous reasons stated..., I see no reason to be alarmed.
819896
After allied forces had pushed the Japanese back to their mainland, they still refused to quit fighting.\n\nRefusing to surrender gave Harry Truman (assumed the war time presidency at Roosevelt's death) two choices. Either invade Japan on the ground at the cost of thousands upon thousands of Americans and Japanese lives or drop a bomb and kill thousands of Japanese. \n\nI have a tendency to think Truman already made the decision to drop the bomb but, don't think he thought he would need two!\n\nThe reality: A horrible destiny for a proud people that were lead by a vicious war machine and a  misguided emperor. Thousands of Japanese and their off spring affected for years after.\n\nWas it necessary?
358749
the first post is all there.\nthe only thing i'll add is in the east japan invaded china and korea, and progessed up to india, part of the british empire. this forced britain into a war with japan. america was going to attack japan, which led japan to a pre-emptive attack; Pearl harbour.\nalthough it was all WWII the war in europe and the war in the east were independant of eachother and both had their own starting points
414527
WW1 was about world leadership with japan so we are told and WW2 was about Hitler
736178
It was oil and other resources such as rubber and scrap steel.  Oil was the reason Japan coveted S E Asia.  \n\nThere was another reason:  an underestimation of the foe they were taking on.  They underestimated the industrial might of the USA . Yamamoto, the Japanese admiral who planned and led the attack on Pearl Harbor stated exactly what was to happen: initial successes until Japan would be overcome by the strength of the industrial response.  Also, call it nationalism or perhaps racism, Japan didn't think they would lose to the USA.  They thought they were tougher and better warriors.  And they were a tenacious, brave adversary.  But they woefully misunderstood the spirit of the Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen who fought under the Stars and Stripes.
591887
well 2 bombs have already been dropped on Japan, but i assume you mean why where the sites chosen. Well the USA wanted to force Japan out of the war so sites that were of economic importantce to Japan was chooosen
826159
Hitler came to power at a time when Germany was defeated (from WWI), weak, vulnerable, in a depression, and looking for someone to blame for their troubles.  The Jews became their primary scape goat, and Hitler became their sense of hope for the future.\n\nGermany decided to take over the world, starting with Poland.  The Soviet Union was initially an ally in Germany's quest, but then Germany attached them as well.  \n\nThe US initially planned to stay out of the war, and that policy held for the first couple of years.  We were dragged in when Japan invaded the US through their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.\n\nThe rest is...well...history.\n\n;-)
356825
It was about USA to help Japan regain their military power\nand abolish their Anti-war Constitution in order to enable Japan to dominate the whole Asian world again.     It was about helping the Resurrection Of Imperialist Japan.
1155481
Our War strategy was called "ISLAND HOPING"...this meant we would attack and conquer one Island in the chain of Islands going towards Japan and then skip the next Island and then Conquer the next Island in the chain of Islands and so forth and so on.\nBut after conquering the Island of Okinawa, president Harry S. Truman gave the go ahead to drop first one ATOMIC BOMB, not "Nuclear" on the Japanese city of HIROSHIMA and ask the Japanese to surrender, but they refused to surrender.  So two weeks later we again dropped another ATOMIC BOMB on the city of NAGASAKI and Japan finally capitulated, thus ending World War Two.
227480
no we were planning to invade Japan its self it was planned for sping of 1946. good thing Japan surrenderd for both of us
334334
At 5 am Sept 1st 1939, Hitler invades Poland. The British and French issue an ultimatum by that afternoon. It expired at noon GMT Sept 3rd. Birtan and France then declared war on Germany, HOWEVER, World War II was not a world war until Japan attacked the USA at Pearl Harbor on Sunday Dec. 7th 1941 at 7am. Go find someone who was there, like I did. I'm sure they have many intresting tales to tell. Dont be afraid of the old. They actually like to talk about the good old bad old days.