Learn About Pearl Harbor

Relive the surprise Japanese attack on December 7, 1941 that drew the United States into World War 2 — the intelligence failures, the devastation, and the turning point it created.

The attack on Pearl Harbor lasted just 110 minutes on the morning of December 7, 1941, with 353 Japanese aircraft launched from six carriers sinking or damaging 21 ships and destroying 188 aircraft, killing 2,403 Americans. Crucially, the three U.S. aircraft carriers — Enterprise, Lexington, and Saratoga — were at sea during the attack, preserving the naval assets that would prove decisive in the Pacific War, particularly at the Battle of Midway six months later. The attack unified a previously divided American public, with Congress declaring war on Japan the following day with only one dissenting vote from pacifist Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana.

Superlore makes learning about Pearl Harbor effortless with AI-generated audio lessons. Listen during your commute, workout, or downtime — and absorb complex ideas at your own pace. Every lesson includes citations so you can dive deeper into the sources.