On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The surprise military strike led to the United States' entry into World War II. There are a number of reasons why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. One reason was that the United States had recently imposed trade sanctions on Japan. These sanctions were in response to Japan's aggression in China. The sanctions prevented Japan from importing oil and other vital resources. This put Japan in a difficult position, as the country needed these resources to continue its military campaigns in China. Another reason for the attack was that the United States was seen as a threat to Japan's plans for expansion in Asia. The United States had a large navy and was opposed to Japan's aggression in China. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a way for Japan to reduce the threat from the United States and to gain control of the Pacific Ocean. Finally, Japan may have also believed that a surprise attack would be successful and that the United States