For a Google doc version of this lesson, click here.
Overview
Early in the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
By the time the assault ended, four U.S. Navy battleships had been sunk, more than 180 aircraft were destroyed and 2,403 lives were lost. The attack was the deadliest attack on American soil at the time. The next day, calling it “a day which will live in infamy,” President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan.
Main activity
Dec. 7 is the anniversary day of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Watch this short clip about the morning of the attack from Ken Burns’ "The War":
After you have watched the video, have your students read this History Channel article explaining Pearl Harbor’s influence on World War II. Then discuss the following questions as a class:
- Why did Japan launch a surprise attack against the United States?
- What impact do stories have when they are told directly from those individuals who were there, such as World War II veterans at Pearl Harbor John Seelie (L) and Armando “Chick” Gallela featured in the photo above?
- In what ways did the attack on Pearl Harbor influence American foreign policy?
- What key events transpired after the attack?
Lesson by Adelyn Baxter, former PBS NewsHour Classroom online producer
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