Most influential event in American history from 1750 to present - Essay Example

The history of United s is replete with remarkable events that have had profound effects on socio- economic and political aspects of the country. Some of the events include abolition of slavery, which initiated the long struggle for equality among the various groups in the country and the Watergate scandal, one of the most embarrassing incidents in the American political system. Various armed conflicts have also played a major role in influencing American policies, and the attack on Pearl Harbor is one of the most prominent events in the American history.

Pearl Harbor attacks motivated the United States’ involvement in the Second World War and reformation of its national security and intelligence. This paper examines the impacts of the Pearl Harbor attacks on United States. United States had experienced other attacks prior to the Pearl Harbor. However, none of them was as destructive and surprising as the Pearl Harbor. In addition, the attack was the first to be conducted in the American territory (Denson, 38). The military assault began in the morning of December 7, 1941 and it targeted American navy stationed in the Pearl Harbor (Toland, 53).

According to Toland, the Pearl Harbor attacks were planned and executed by the Imperial Japanese Army (79). During the period, the Second World War had been going on for two years but the United States had not yet joined the conflict. Japan, Italy, and Germany the main aggressors were concerned about the imminent involvement of the united states in the war. Due to the apparent superiority of the American navy, the Japanese military planned the Pearl Harbor assault to prevent United States from joining war by weakening its naval ability (Denson, 67-74).

Pearl Harbor assault was executed by over 350 Japanese warplanes, which bombed and destroyed American battleships and military installations in a surprise attack that lasted about 90 minutes. The operation killed about 2,400 Americans and wounded over 1000. The number of Japanese soldiers killed was just 65. The high number of American casualties demonstrates that Japanese achieved a remarkable tactical success during the execution of the attack. Besides the high number of casualties, the Japanese assault destroyed 188 US military planes and eight battleships while they lost 29 planes and six submarines to the Americans (Toland, 25-49).

The devastating impacts of the Japanese operation on the United States triggered unprecedented reactions from the Americans. United States declared war on Japan, it became actively involved in the Second World War after Italy, and Germany declared war on the Americans. The United States involvement in the Second World War proved decisive four years later when the war ended with American allies emerging the victors. The US revenged the humiliating Pearl Harbor attack by dropping devastating atomic bombs on two major Japanese cities leading to the surrender of the adversaries (Denson, 94).

Involvement of United States in the Second World War established the country as the leading military superpower in the world a reputation it holds up to date. Pearl Harbor attacks enhanced the unity of American people in their resolve to fight and defeat their enemy. The unity was demonstrated in 2001 after the terror attacks in New York. American government and its citizens overwhelmingly supported the global war on terror that has since resulted to relentless destruction of terror organizations across the globe (Denson, 106).

In addition, the Pearl Harbor attacks jolted the United States to review and enhance its security intelligence. According to CIA, the need to have a more proactive and centralized intelligence organ was realized after the attacks. Consequently, the National Security Act of 1947 was enacted and after September 11 attacks, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act was passed in 2004(CIA). Work cited CIA. “Intelligence throughout history: The impact of Pearl Harbor”. 2010. 13 June 2012. www.cia.

gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2010-featured-story-archive/pearl- harbor.html Denson, John. A Century of War: Lincoln, Wilson, and Roosevelt. Washington, DC: Von Mises Institute, 2006. Toland, John. Infamy: Pearl Harbor and Its Aftermath. New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 1986.