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Pearl Harbor Conspiracy Theory. Nik Brozovich International Politics. Presentation Outline. Background Conspiracy theory My hypothesis is there were people in the government who did know about the planned Pearl Harbor, which permitted the US to intervene in WWII. 3) Works Cited.
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Pearl Harbor Conspiracy Theory Nik Brozovich International Politics
Presentation Outline • Background • Conspiracy theory My hypothesis is there were people in the government who did know about the planned Pearl Harbor, which permitted the US to intervene in WWII. 3) Works Cited
Axis Powers- Germany, Japan, Italy, Austria, etc. Allied Powers- Britain, France, USSR, USA, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, etc. Victorious WWII: 1938 to 1945
Axis- Orange Allies- Green (light green-entered war after attack on Pearl Harbor) Axis and Allies
Reasons for Attack on Pearl Harbor • US embargo was placed on Japan (September 1940), after Japan’s takeover of Northern French Indochina • Prohibited exports of steel, scrap iron, and aviation fuel
Reasons for Attack on Pearl Harbor • US, Britain,and Netherlands froze Japanese assets, because Japan took over Southern Indochina • Japanese unable to buy oil
Attack on Pearl Harbor • December 6, 1941 • Japanese planes showed up on radar at Pearl Harbor- mistaken as American B-17s • Two waves of Japanese attack • 3, 500 Americans killed or wounded • 350 aircrafts destroyed or damaged • 18 ships badly damaged or sunk
Attack on Pearl Harbor • Fuel storage, submarines, intelligence centers, and maintenance centers escaped with little damage • American Aircraft carriers were untouched • The attack on Pearl Harbor was not very successful for Japan, even though thousands of Americans died
Aftermath of Pearl Harbor • December 7, 1941- the United States of America declares war on Japan • USA joined the allied powers, fighting the Japanese as well as the Nazi Germans
Speculation regarding the Attack On Pearl Harbor • Franklin D. Roosevelt was a supporter of the Allies prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor • FDR was against the Neutrality Act, which stated the US could not send arms to any combatant nation • Americans were isolationists, and did not want to interfere with other countries affairs
The Conspiracy Theory • Many people believe that FDR and the government allowed the Pearl Harbor attack to occur to gain the public support for WWII • This theory states the US government sacrificed Pearl Harbor • Pearl Harbor was a single piece in an intricate game of chess
FDR Wanted To Go To War • On August 14, 1941, British Prime Minister Churchill noted FDR longed for war • In diary entry by Harold Ickes, US Secretary of Interior, stated "For a long time I have believed that our best entrance into the war would be by way of Japan."
FDR Planned For War • Navy analyst McCollum wrote a memo containing 8 points on how to force Japan into war with the US • FDR put all 8 points into effect over a period of time
FDR Exposed the US Fleet • FDR moved the fleet from the West Coast to Hawaii in 1940 • Admiral Richardson stated there was inadequate protection- he was replaced when he told FDR of his concerns • Admiral Kimmel, Richardson’s replacement brought up similar concerns to FDR
FDR Ignored Warnings • There were multiple warnings that FDR received that the Japanese were going to attack the fleet at Pearl Harbor • It was reported the Japanese were practicing torpedo attacks in Ariake Bay • A British agent told the FBI of the attack on Pearl Harbor- FBI said his information was too precise
FDR ignored Warnings • Kisloo Haan, a Sino-Korean People's League agent, had proof the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor before Christmas • Haan told Senator Gillette, who told FDR of the planned attack
FDR Was Not Surprised • When FDR learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Harry Hopkins, a close adviser of FDR, wrote that FDR did not seem surprised, but rather expressed “great relief” • FDR had a Declaration of War on Japan ready, as if he expected a surprise attack
Cover-up • The Navy court and Army court found FDR and Washington responsible for Pearl Harbor attack • Most of the men who did not warn Hawaii of the surprise attack were under the control of FDR • FDR protected the conspirators, rather than punishing them
Questions • Was Pearl Harbor just a pawn in a game of chess? • If Pearl Harbor was a pawn, did FDR play the game of chess correctly?
Works Cited • "Countries Involved in World War Two." Century of Flight. Web. 20 Aug. 2010. <http://www.century-of- flight.net/Aviation history/WW2/involved.htm>. • "Pearl Harbor - Mother of All Conspiracies." What Really Happened. Web. 20 Aug. 2010. <http://what reallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/pearl/www. Geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/pearl.html?q=pearl /www.geocities.com/pentagon/6315/pearl.html>.
Works Cited • Stiles, Kendall W. "Intelligence: Pearl Harbor." Case Histories in International Politics. 6th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 185-200. Print. • "The Truth About Pearl Harbor." The Independent Institute. Web. 20 Aug. 2010.<http://www.independ ent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=445>. • "World War II." The Map Database. Web. 20 Aug. 2010.<http://www.themapdatabase.com/category /wars/world-war-ii/>.