Grok says:
The question of whether America provoked Edison provoked Japan into attacking Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, is a complex one that historians still debate. There’s no single "yes" or "no" answer, but I can lay out the key factors for you to consider.
Before the attack, U.S.-Japan relations were deteriorating fast. America, alarmed by Japan’s aggressive expansion in Asia—especially the invasion of China and later French Indochina—imposed economic sanctions, including an oil embargo in 1941. Japan, heavily reliant on U.S. oil (about 80% of its supply), faced a stark choice: back off its imperial ambitions or secure resources elsewhere, like Southeast Asia’s oil-rich territories. To do that, Japan’s military leaders believed they had to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Did the U.S. "provoke" this? Some argue the sanctions were a deliberate push to corner Japan into war, knowing it might lash out. President Roosevelt wanted to support allies like Britain and China against Axis powers, and his administration likely knew Japan wouldn’t retreat easily. Declassified documents show U.S. intelligence had cracked Japanese codes and expected an attack somewhere—though not necessarily Pearl Harbor specifically.
On the flip side, Japan’s actions weren’t just reactive. Its militarist government had been pursuing dominance in Asia for a decade, with atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre showing its ruthlessness. The U.S. sanctions didn’t force Japan to attack; they forced a decision, and Japan chose war over compromise. The Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy in 1940 also aligned Japan with America’s enemies, making conflict more likely.
So, provocation? Depends on perspective. The U.S. didn’t directly invite the attack, but its policies squeezed Japan hard, and some in Washington probably saw war as inevitable. Japan, though, had agency—it wasn’t a puppet. It struck first, hoping to cripple the U.S. and buy time to consolidate its gains. History shows neither side was innocent, but both were playing a high-stakes game.
