The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor because they wanted to gain control of the Hawaiian Islands destroy ships and planes that threatened their expansion efforts provoke the United States into declaring war demonstrate their support for Germany and Italy

## Step 1<br />The problem is a multiple-choice question about the reasons behind the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. The options provided are:<br />A. gain control of the Hawaiian Islands<br />B. destroy ships and planes that threatened their expansion efforts<br />C. provoke the United States into declaring war<br />D. demonstrate their support for Germany and Italy<br /><br />## Step 2<br />The correct answer is B. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor with the intention of destroying the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which they perceived as a significant threat to their planned military actions in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:<br />A. The Japanese did not aim to gain control of the Hawaiian Islands. Their primary objective was to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet.<br />C. The Japanese did not aim to provoke the United States into declaring war. They were more focused on neutralizing the U.S. Pacific Fleet to buy time to consolidate their gains in Southeast Asia.<br />D. The Japanese did not attack Pearl Harbor to demonstrate their support for Germany and Italy. Their primary objective was to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet.