Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Empire of Japan , specifically the Imperial Japanese Navy , on December 7, 1941. The strike was a surprise air-and-sea attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

What happened

  • Japanese aircraft launched from six carriers carried out the attack in two waves.
  • The assault lasted under two hours and killed or wounded more than 3,500 Americans.

Why it matters

The attack brought the United States into World War II after Congress declared war on Japan the next day.