America's involvement in World War II has often been equated with the Japanese awakening the "sleeping giant", and is often considered an invincible superpower. The reality is that the invincibility of the United States has never really been tested. The United States is separated from the rest of the Western world by an ocean on both sides of its borders and has therefore only suffered two attacks on native soil. Even if America's invincibility is not easily verifiable, and therefore not easily discredited, it is nevertheless questionable whether or not the Japanese awakened the "sleeping giant" by bombing Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. American public opinion before attack on Pearl Harbor was isolationist, she might have sympathy for the victims of Hitler, Franco and Mussolini, but she didn't actually care enough to get involved in another war. The members of Congress they elected in the late 1930s and early 1940s respected the wishes of their constituents and therefore did everything in their power to prevent U.S. involvement in World War II, even after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In fact, one of the few Americans who seemed concerned about the horrific events happening overseas was President Franklin Roosevelt; However, despite pleas from the leaders of the Allied forces, even President Roosevelt failed to fully make the case for U.S. involvement. and remained a bland figure until the late 1930s. It was not until 1940 that President Roosevelt was able to take a stand and begin attempts to convince the American people to actively support the Allied forces against the Nazi forces. The Japanese may take credit for waking up the “sleeping giant”, however, it is actually President Roosevelt and a small portion of t…… half of the paper……. Secretary of War Stimson believed it was necessary to “maneuver them into the position where they offer the first blow without too much harm to ourselves.” (515) Roosevelt may not have left the fleet at Pearl Harbor with a clear ally, but he seemed aware that a sacrifice would be necessary to reawaken the will to fight. This sacrifice came in the form of 2,403 men at Pearl Harbor on December 5, 1941. (522) Congress would declare war just three days after the Japanese attack, with only one dissenting vote. (523) The American people had finally understood what Roosevelt had been saying for years, that the Axis powers could not remain uncontrolled otherwise it could and would have consequences for the Americans. The attacks had exactly the opposite effect to what Yamamoto had intended: the American people were furious and cried out for revenge against the "Japanese traitors”.”. (523-524)