As a historian with a focus on the World War II era, I can provide a comprehensive overview of the United States' response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which was a pivotal moment in American history and marked the country's entry into the global conflict. **Step 1: Declaration of War and Mobilization** The immediate response to the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, was a formal declaration of war against Japan by the United States. This declaration came on December 8, 1941, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress and famously referred to December 7th as "a date which will live in infamy." The United States' declaration of war was quickly followed by similar declarations from countries within the British Commonwealth, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Step 2: The Home Front On the home front, the United States underwent a significant transformation. There was a massive mobilization of its industry and economy to support the war effort. The government initiated a series of measures to convert the economy into a wartime footing, which included the establishment of agencies like the War Production Board to oversee the manufacturing of military equipment and supplies. Step 3: Military Strategy and Operations The U.S. military strategy involved a "Germany first" policy, which prioritized the defeat of Nazi Germany over Imperial Japan, given the greater threat posed by Hitler's regime to global security and the Atlantic alliance. However, operations in the Pacific were not neglected. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps launched a series of island-hopping campaigns to reclaim islands occupied by Japan, which were crucial for establishing a supply route and airfields closer to the Japanese mainland. **Step 4: Technological and Scientific Advancements** The war also spurred significant technological and scientific advancements. The United States invested heavily in research and development, which led to innovations such as radar, advanced aircraft, and the development of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project. Step 5: The Doolittle Raid As mentioned in the reference, President Roosevelt sought a means to bolster American morale and strike back at Japan. This led to the Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942, where B-25 bombers, led by Lieutenant Colonel James "Jimmy" Doolittle, took off from the USS Hornet and bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Although the material damage was limited, the raid had a profound psychological impact on both the American public and the Japanese leadership. Step 6: International Alliances The United States forged and strengthened alliances with other nations, including the formation of the United Nations. The U.S. played a central role in the Allied powers, working closely with the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China to coordinate efforts against the Axis powers. **Step 7: The Manhattan Project and Atomic Bomb** One of the most significant outcomes of the war was the development and use of the atomic bomb. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret research and development program during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. **Step 8: The End of the War and Post-War Era** The end of the war saw the United States emerge as a global superpower. It participated in the reconstruction of war-torn nations through initiatives like the Marshall Plan for Europe and took a leading role in the establishment of the United Nations to prevent future global conflicts. read more >>

ON DECEMBER 21, 1941, only two weeks after Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt, intent on bolstering America's battered morale, summoned his armed forces commanders to the White House to demand a bombing raid on Japan as soon as possible.Feb 10, 2012read more >>