U.S.-Japanese relations prior to World War II were marked by increasing tension due to Japan's aggressive expansion in Asia and Western economic sanctions led by the U.S. The U.S. perceived Japanese expansion as a threat and Japanese viewed U.S. sanctions as an act of aggression. These tensions led to the breakdown of diplomatic relations and ultimately the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- The relationship between the United States and Japan in the years leading up to World War II was strained and progressively deteriorating.
- Japanese expansionism and military victories in Eastern Asia fostered a sense of resentment towards the Western powers.
- The U.S. response to Japanese aggression, particularly in China, included economic sanctions such as embargoing oil and gas sales to Japan, which further heightened tensions between the two nations.
- The U.S. also saw a strategic need to check Japan's ambitions and moved the Pacific Fleet from California to Pearl Harbor as a deterrent.
- Despite ongoing trade and diplomacy, which Japan valued insofar as it furthered their expansionistic plans, the lack of willingness from the U.S. to fully accommodate Japan's imperial objectives led to a breakdown in relations.
- This ultimately culminated in Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor while diplomatic negotiations were still ostensibly underway, as they perceived the U.S. as an impediment to their goals in Southeast Asia.
- Japan felt threatened by the U.S. actions and considered the embargoes an act of aggression, making their empire vulnerable. Both nations' ambitions and racial tensions added complexity to their interactions, with Japan's belief in Western racism, dating back to the nineteenth century, playing a background role.
- The fight between Japan and China in the 1930s also brought the conflict to a global scale.
- The U.S. wanted Japan to withdraw from China and cease its regional aggression, which Japan was unwilling to do.
- Ultimately, Japan decided to move against the United States with a pre-emptive strike on Pearl Harbor, aiming to prevent U.S. interference in its expansionist activities throughout Asia.