American Pride:

Protecting American Soil

At the beginning of World War 2 America

decided not to participate in the war. America
was still haunted by the thought of war and
wanted to keep to itself. This decision lasted
until the attack on American territory: Pearl
Harbor. This attack stirred up American Pride,
united the hearts of Americans, and drove the
country to war.
 On December 7th 1941 a total of 350
Japanese aircraft raided Pearl Harbor
damaging or sinking 21 American ships
and destroying 188 American aircraft. The
death toll reached 2,350, along with 68
civilians and 1,178 injured.
 The day after the attack on
Pearl Harbor Franklin Roosevelt
signed a declaration of war against
Japan. In the declaration it said,
“The Imperial Government of Japan
has committed unprovoked acts of
war against the Government and the
people of the United States of
America.” Further along in the
document it stated that war had
been, “thrust upon the United
States.” America had not originally
wanted to go to war but the
protection of the American but the
attack on Pearl Harbor drove the
people to war.
 There had been rumors of missing Japanese navy
ships a week before the attack on Pearl Harbor. These
rumors were dismissed as impossible by many of the
soldiers thinking that the Japanese would never dare to
attack the strong naval base set up at Pearl Harbor. This
overconfidence may have cost us much, but it also
brought about more determination in the hearts of
Americans.
 9/11:
A second Pearl Harbor Attack?
 On September 11, 2001 19
terrorists hijacked 4 commercial
jet liners. Two of these airplanes
were intentionally crashed into
the Twin Towers (World Trade
Center). The buildings collapsed
destroying themselves and
nearby buildings. Another of the
airliners was driven into the
Pentagon which did heavy
damage to the building and
killing many people. The 4th
airliner was crashed
unintentionally into a field in
southwest Pennsylvania. 2,974
people died as an immediate
result of the attacks.
 On September 18th, 2001
the United States Congress
passed the, “Authorization for
Use of Military Force Against
Terrorists” which authorized the
use of the United States Armed
Forces against those
responsible for the attacks on
September 11th, 2001. The
authorization granted the
President the authority to use all
“necessary and appropriate
force” against those involved
with the attacks. This began the
War on Terror.
 The resolution against
terrorists stated that on
September 11th “acts of
treacherous violence were
committed against the United
States and its citizens” and that
the attacks on 9/11 “render it
both necessary and
appropriate that the United
States exercise its rights to
self-defense and to protect
United States citizens both at
home and abroad.”
 The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against
Terrorists was a joint resolution with the Authorization for Use
of Military Force Against Iraq. This second resolution
authorized the Iraq War. The resolution was signed into law
by President Bush on October 16, 2002. This resolution
began the war we are in now. The only reason the resolution
passed was because the American people knew that the
September 11th attacks rendered it necessary to “protect
United States citizens both at home and abroad.” If this meant
going and rooting out terrorists in their own country, then so
be it. American knew that it couldn’t let something like the
September 11th attacks happen again.
 Similarities Between the 9/11
Attacks and Pearl Harbor
• Both attacks were on • They both angered and
American territory. saddened many
Americans.
• They both took over 2000
American lives. • Both attacks gave rise to a
strong response by the
• They both caused heavy American people.
damage to American • Both brought about
property. patriotism in the hearts of
• They both initiated a war. Americans.
• Both came from a foreign
• They both were a surprise.
country.