by Ruth Scalpone

Created on: July 04, 2009   Last Updated: July 05, 2009

The attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 affected World War II by drawing in America. The American populace had felt they were safe and their country would never be attacked. On December 6, 1941, the day before, the American people had no idea an American Naval base would be bombed the next day. Once Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked by Japan, it eliminated the attitude of isolationism that had prevailed in America, and its people's unwillingness to get into another war "over there." The war in Europe, which had seemed far away from them, suddenly was close to home and was their war, too.

In the early years of the 20th century, America fought and many Americans died in World War I. Nerve gas was used for the first time. Even soldiers and airmen who survived the war had lingering injuries from combat. That war had been supposed to "end all wars". It did not, of course, end all wars. Pearl Harbor made sure Americans knew they were involved in the war.

The American government joined the British and other Allied governments who already were at war with Germany. It also battled other governments, such as Italy, which were associated with them. There were two fronts to the war, European and Asian, and both fronts had to be dealt with. It wasn't a matter of fighting one war, then the other; both combat fronts were simultaneous.

A lot of men enlisted in the military immediately after Pearl Harbor. Public attitudes in America became supportive of the troops and the war. The general attitude seemed to be "we're in this together, and we will do anything that is necessary for the war effort." It seemed almost every family had someone in the service. Since so many men were in the military and not at home, American women went to work outside the home to support their families. It was not easy to take care of feeding and clothing their families while working, in addition to running their households, but it was done. Weapons and other combat necessities were provided by their jobs.

During the years of America's involvement in the war (1941-1945), many things, such as sugar, dairy products, and gasoline were rationed. The public believed this was helping the war effort and everybody was going through the same, so it was acceptable. Commodities that were requested, like metal and rubber, were cheerfully donated by American people.

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