Pearl Harbor was a surprise military attack launched by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The attack, which lasted about two hours, resulted in the deaths of 2,403 Americans, including 68 civilians, and the destruction of 20 American naval vessels and 164 aircraft.
The attack was a major event that precipitated the United States' entry into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation the following day, famously declaring that December 7, 1941, was "a date which will live in infamy." On December 8, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan, and on December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.
The attack on Pearl Harbor had far-reaching consequences for the United States and the world. It led to a dramatic escalation of the war, as the United States became fully involved and began mobilizing its vast resources for war. The attack also had a profound impact on the American psyche, creating a sense of outrage and determination to defeat the Axis powers. It remains one of the most significant events of the 20th century.
