On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, triggering the United State's entry into World War II. The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred just before 8:00 in the morning, and was over within two hours. Over 2,400 people died in the attack, producing the largest loss of life during an attack on U.S. soil until the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htmhttp://www.longislandpress.com/2010/12/06/pearl-harbor-day-history-of-pearl-harbor-day/

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a complete surprise, as the Japanese attacked without any prior attempt at diplomatic formalities. The attack planes arrived in two waves.In addition to the thousands of lives lost or injured, 188 planes were destroyed and 8 battleships, including the USS Arizona, were damaged or destroyed.http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

After receiving news of the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a request for a declaration of war on Japan to the U.S. Congress. A day after the attack, Roosevelt spoke before Congress and delivered a speech to urge approval for the war. The President opened his speech with the words: "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy..."

Both houses of Congress approved the war with only one dissenting vote. The only member who voted "no" was congresswoman Jeannette Rankin of Montana. Three days later, Japanese allies  Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S., and Congress responded immediately by declaring war on them as well.http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/fdr-infamy.htm

• 3:42 a.m: Periscope is spotted off Honolulu Harborhttp://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

• 7:02 a.m: Radar picks up 50 or more aircraft headed for Oahuhttp://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

• 7:55 a.m: The Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor beginshttp://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

• 8:10 a.m: USS Arizona explodes, sinking the ship in nine minuteshttp://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

• 8:54 a.m: Second wave of Japanese attack beginshttp://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

• 1:00 p.m: Senate unanimously adopts a resolution declaring war on Japanhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/history/pearlharbor_timeline.html