8 December 1941

On December 8, 1941, the United States officially entered World War II, a global conflict involving many nations. This happened shortly after Japan's surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The attack caused significant destruction and loss of life, prompting President Franklin D. Roosevelt to ask Congress for a declaration of war. Congress quickly approved, marking the nation's shift from neutrality to active involvement in the war. This day is remembered as a turning point that led the US to participate fully in the fight against the Axis powers.