This investigation evaluates the extent to which the embargo imposed on Japan by the United States in 1940 and 1941 evoked the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor is often viewed by many Americans as a gratuitous "surprise" attack, while historical documents come from key figures on both the Japanese and American sides, but there has been evidence and research to the contrary. Pearl Harbor is one of the most memorable events of World War II from an American perspective. Although it is debatable whether the United States would have still entered World War II (although the argument leans heavily toward the former), the attack on Pearl Harbor served as a symbol of sacrifice for the American people and contributed to the patriotism that helped him. win the war. The scope of this investigation will focus on U.S.-Japanese relations between 1937 and 1941, but we will draw on evidence dating back to 1919 to substantiate analytical interpretations as well as other perspectives. The methods used in this investigation are the examination of a public speech (fireside chat) given by Franklin D. Roosevelt on December 9, 1941, as well as a case study on the inventory of conflicts and environment (The Road to Pearl Harbor: United States versus Japan) by Yuichi Arima and produced through the American University. These two particular methods are evaluated for their origin, purpose, value and limitations. A quoted propaganda film is only used for its quotes and/or facts which have then been verified by multiple sources. At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, Japan took control of German territory in China and occupied the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall island groups (belonging to Germany). ) which are found in the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and Hawaii. After World War I, the League of Nations... middle of paper ... events in history. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press. Hamen, Susan E. 2009. Pearl Harbor. Minneapolis, MN: Abdo Publishing Company Lafeber, W. 1994. The American Age Volume 2. Since 1998 New York [ua]: NortonLeavit, Joshep. The failure of Bushido. [Consulted March 5, 2014]Menyhert, Renita. 2012. Remember Pearl Harbor. Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris Corp. Pacificwar.org.au. np The Pacific War 1941-43. [online] Available at: http://www.pacificwar.org.au/ [Accessed: March 5, 2014] Roosevelt, Franklin D. December 8, 1941. Date of the infamous speech delivered to Congress in Washington, DC in 12:30 p.m. EST.Roosevelt, Franklin D. December 9, 1941. Online Fireside Chat by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woodley. The American Presidency Project. Van Sant, JE, Mauch, P., and Sugita, Y. 2007. Historical Dictionary of U.S.-Japan Relations. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.