Sample Answer

• Military Focus:The U.S. military shifted its focus to fighting a two-front war – against Germany and Italy in Europe and against Japan in the Pacific.

Military Preparations:

• Expansion:The U.S. military underwent a dramatic expansion, with millions of men and women being drafted or volunteering for service.
• Pacific Theater:The U.S. prioritized building up its naval and air forces in the Pacific Ocean to counter the Japanese threat. This included constructing aircraft carriers, battleships, submarines, and fighter aircraft.
• Island Hopping Strategy:The U.S. adopted an “island hopping” strategy in the Pacific, aimed at capturing key islands from the Japanese and establishing airbases closer to Japan.

Part II: Biggest Shortcoming

There wasn’t a single biggest shortcoming in the U.S. military, but a combination of factors that needed addressing:

• Pre-war Isolationism:Prior to Pearl Harbor, the U.S. had maintained a policy of isolationism, neglecting to fully prepare for a large-scale conflict. This resulted in a smaller military compared to major powers like Germany and Japan.
• Intelligence Failures:The U.S. intelligence community underestimated Japan’s capabilities and failed to predict the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• Military Readiness:While the U.S. possessed immense industrial capacity, its military forces needed time to mobilize, train, and equip for a global war.

In conclusion, the Pearl Harbor attack forced the U.S. into a massive mobilization effort. While the U.S. had a strong industrial base, pre-war isolationism and intelligence failures left them unprepared for the immediate challenges of a global conflict.