Rivalry between Japan and the USA had begun since the 1920s. The main problem was trade rivalry. While Europe fought in the First World War, Japan was able to take over most of the their trading activity in the far east. However, the USA also wanted to dominate trade in the Far East.

When the world trade depression of the 1930s began to hit Japan, powerful businessmen and military leaders (which wanted Japan to build its own empire on the mainland of Asia) invaded Manchuria (1931). Six years later Japan was in full war with China.

At 1940, american spies also retained a valuable piece of information, that Germany, Italy and Japan signed a pact.

Japan wanted conquer the Far East which would make it self-sufficient raw materials. This was not only threatening to the USA, but also the USSR.

However, in June 1941 Hitler invaded USSR and sovled Japans problem.

At 7.53 a.m, the commander of the swarm of 181 Japanese fither and bombers, radioed a code "Tora! Tora! Troa!" - "Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!" meaning "we have suceeded in surprise attack".

Meanwhile American intelligence intercepted another message from Japan to the Japanese ambassadors, which stated that they should break off all diplomatic relations with the U.S. Directly after this, another "war warning" was sent to all the overseas bases in the Pacific. This message was not received until too late in Pearl Harbor. In 110 minutes, the United States Navy suffered its worst distaster in history.

Prime Minister Hideki tojo told the ambassadors in Washington d.C to keep up negotiations for as long as they could, so the Americans would not suspect anything. However , American cyptographers had cracked the Japanese Imperial Code and were reading every message that was coming from Japan. So, the Americans knew the Japanese were planning some kindo of move on the Pacific, but they didn't know where, or when. Finally, the Americans started buildng up its armed forces.

On November 26, 1941, the first air fleet left Japan for Hawaii. This had to be done in utmost secrecy, as, if America found about this fleet, they might destroy it and Japan would automatically lose the war. On December the 6th, the officials in Hawaii received a war warning from Washington and they went on alert, but the next day, December 7, the alert didn't take affect as it was a Sunday and everyone had the day off.

Meanwhile, half a dozen Japanese midget submarines appeared in the harbour. The submarines range was found, and the Americans manged to destroy 5 of them, as well as a larger one which was sunk outsie the harbour entrance. Explosions and fire continued, when at 9.45 a.m, approx. 2 hours after it began, the attack ended with the Japanese planes flying off in several directions.

On December 7, 1941, the Sunday papers had usual news, and for Americans worried about the state of the world, there was a reassuring word from the Navy secretary stating that "the American people may feel fully confident in the Navy".

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1531
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)