On December 7, 1941, just before 8 a.m., Japanese fighter planes attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii. This was a surprise attack on the US Army. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the final step that brought the United States into World War II. Before this attack, Japan had problems with the United States and other large government countries starting in 1915. Japan placed its "twenty-one demands" on China, giving Japan greater status in some parts of the country. When the United States implemented the open door policy, Japan's demands were no longer respected. Subsequently, the Great Depression in the United States worsened Japan's economic problems; they depended on international trade as their island country had only a few natural resources. Adding to the list of problems, Japan was overpopulated and many countries, especially the United States, denied entry to Japanese immigrants. Japanese military leaders thought the only way to solve the country's problems was to invade China. After several aggressions against parts of China, the United States had enacted a policy to limit economic sanctions against Japan, refuse recognition of Japanese military achievements, and refuse equal military and economic assistance to China. Japan blamed foreign interference for China's refusal to give in to Japan's terms. The Japanese then wanted to find a way to prevent foreign aid from reaching China, so they could take control of the country. In 1940, Japan saw Germany as a strong and reliable country to collaborate with due to its lightning victories. At the time, there were territories in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific controlled by major European powers, such as France, the Netherlands, and Great Britain. It was beautiful... in the center of the paper... the Nation (12-08-41)." American rhetoric: Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Pearl Harbor speech to the nation (12-08-41). Np, nd Web. 9 April 2014. Navy, United States. “The Attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.” Naval History and U.S. Navy Heritage Command, 6 April 2014. “History of Pearl Harbor.” A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 7 April 2014. .United States and East Asia, 1915-1941 "EDSITEment!. National Endowment for the Humanities, n.d. Web. April 7, 2014."USS Arizona Memorial." USS Arizona Memorial. Arizona Memorial Museum Foundation, n.d. Web. April 8, 2014..Wohlstetter, Roberta. Pearl Harbor; warning and decision. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1962. Print.