Introduction

The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, remains one of the most significant events in U.S. history. However, the question of whether the Japanese-American population was aware of the impending attack has been a topic of much debate. It is often assumed that Japanese-Americans were as surprised as the rest of the U.S. population. This misconception can be attributed to a lack of historical context and a misunderstanding of the complex geopolitical maneuvers leading up to the event.

Surprise or Not?

While it is true that there were likely a few Japanese-American spies who were aware of the impending attack, the general Japanese-American population was not privy to this information. The idea that the general public, including Japanese-Americans, could be so surprised is akin to the hypothetical scenario of poking a bear with a stick multiple times only to be caught off guard when the bear finally attacks on the 9th attempt. This comparison is fitting because the general population was, in many ways, caught off guard by the attack.

It is important to consider the broader context. The Allies, particularly President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), had a strategic interest in provoking a conflict with the Axis powers. This motivation was driven by the desire to free FDR from the constraints of his 1940 campaign promise to keep the United States out of the war and to subsequently leverage the attack to maintain public support and turn the tide of public opinion.

Provoke and Respond

FDR's plan involved a series of provocations designed to bring about a first strike by the Axis powers. These provocations were executed with the intention of shifting public opinion towards war. FDR knew that the(prog)