What was MacArthur forced to do when Japan attacked the Philippines?

MacArthur thought that the new American B-17D heavy bomber (above) could prevent a Japanese invasion of the Philippines. Unfortunately, his inaction during the nine hours following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor caused his air power to be destroyed on the ground.

What did the US do immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack?

The attack on Pearl Harbor left more than 2,400 Americans dead and shocked the nation, sending shockwaves of fear and anger from the West Coast to the East. The following day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress, asking them to declare war on Japan, which they did by an almost-unanimous vote.

Why was the attack on Pearl Harbor such a surprise?

Most thought Japan would seize oil rich British and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia. American forces in the Philippines could threaten such a Japanese advance—so Washington saw potential conflict there. Explosions rock the Naval Air Station at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack.

Why was the United States unprepared for the war?

Why was the United States unprepared for war? Jefferson’s cut had weakened the military leaving a shortage of soldiers and a Navy of only 8 ships.

Why was Pearl Harbor not a success for Japan?

But the Pearl Harbor attack had failed in its objective to completely destroy the Pacific Fleet. The Japanese bombers missed oil tanks, ammunition sites and repair facilities, and not a single U.S. aircraft carrier was present during the attack.

Why did MacArthur return to the Philippines?

Japan’s invasion of the islands after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 had cut off American troops stationed there, and General MacArthur had been ordered to evacuate by FDR in early 1942, leading to MacArthur’s famous comment that “I shall return” to the Philippines, spoken from a railway platform in …

How did US retaliate after Pearl Harbour?

Japan had raided the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor; the United States had responded by bombing Japan’s capital. The planes flew west toward China. After 13 hours of flight, night was approaching and all were critically low on fuel, even with crews manually topping off the fuel tanks.

What did Japan do after Pearl Harbor?

Following the Pearl Harbor attack, however, a wave of antiJapanese suspicion and fear led the Roosevelt administration to adopt a drastic policy toward these residents, alien and citizen alike. Virtually all Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and property and live in camps for most of the war.

Why did the US go to war with Japan?

To a certain extent, the conflict between the United States and Japan stemmed from their competing interests in Chinese markets and Asian natural resources. While the United States and Japan jockeyed peaceably for influence in eastern Asia for many years, the situation changed in 1931.