Question

question 4 of 20
why was the attack on pearl harbor a significant event during world war ii?
a. it drew the united states into world war ii in both europe and asia.
b. it caused both great britain and france to declare war on germany.
c. it succeeded in puncturing german defenses in western europe.
d. it forced the japanese to agree to unconditional surrender.

Explanation:

The attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) was a surprise military strike by the Japanese Navy Air Service against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Before this attack, the U.S. had a policy of isolationism. After the attack, the U.S. declared war on Japan (December 8, 1941), and because of Germany's alliance with Japan (the Tripartite Pact), Germany declared war on the U.S. (December 11, 1941). So the U.S. entered the war in both the European (fighting Germany) and Asian (fighting Japan) theaters.

• Option B: Great Britain and France declared war on Germany in 1939 (after Germany invaded Poland), long before Pearl Harbor.
• Option C: This has nothing to do with the Pearl Harbor attack. Operations like D - Day (1944) were related to puncturing German defenses in Western Europe.
• Option D: The Japanese agreed to unconditional surrender after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 1945), not because of Pearl Harbor.

Answer:

A. It drew the United States into World War II in both Europe and Asia.