Final answer:
Japan's aim in attacking American bases was primarily to prevent American intervention in the Pacific, as they sought to expand their empire in Southeast Asia. They aimed to cripple the US naval power by destroying key vessels and aircraft. The attack on Pearl Harbor ultimately led to the US entering World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
Japanese Objectives in Attacking American Bases
The primary goal of the Japanese attack on American bases, most notably Pearl Harbor, was D. To prevent American intervention in the Pacific. Japan sought to neutralize the United States as a naval power and inhibit its capacity to inhibit Japan's expansion throughout Southeast Asia. By launching a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese aimed to destroy enough battleships and aircraft carriers to cripple American naval power, thereby securing time to fortify their positions in the newly acquired territories.
It was also part of a coordinated Pacific offensive to deal a blow to both the United States and European colonial powers in the region. Although Japan did not aim to conquer the United States, it did hope that the sheer force of the attack would deter the US from military engagement and undermine their will to fight back. Japan underestimated the response of the United States, which rallied its forces and subsequently declared war.
Japan's military leaders assumed that their preemptive strike would buy them sufficient time to consolidate their hold on Southeastern Asia without the threat of US intervention. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor served as a catalyst for the US to abandon its isolationist policy, leading to a full-scale American entry into World War II.