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In the summer of 1941, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands began an oil embargo against Japan, threatening its ability to fight a major war at sea or in the air.

However, Japanese forces continued to advance into China.
Japan planned an attack on Pearl Harbor to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet, then seize oil fields in the Dutch East Indies.

On December 7, a Japanese carrier fleet launched an unexpected air attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The raid destroyed most of the American aircraft on the island and knocked the main American battle fleet out of action (six battleships sank, but four of them along with two other badly damaged battleships eventually returned to service).
However, the four American aircraft carriers that had been the intended main target of the Japanese attack were off at sea.
At Pearl Harbor, the main dock, supply, and repair facilities were quickly repaired.
Furthermore, the base’s fuel storage facilities, whose destruction could have crippled the Pacific fleet, were untouched.

The attack united American public opinion to demand vengeance against Japan.
The following day, December 8, the United States declared war on Japan.
On the same day, Japan invaded Malaya, and China officially declared war against Japan.

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