Module 3: Background on Pearl Harbor

This list covers:
"War in the Pacific"
"Day of Infamy"
"Fourteen-Part Message"
21 words 345 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. overrun
    invade or occupy in great numbers
    In September, Japan signed a treaty of cooperation with Germany and Italy, whose armies were busy overrunning Europe and North Africa.
  2. campaign
    related operations aimed at achieving a particular goal
    Tojo and his advisors knew that the United States would have a big advantage over Japan in a long campaign.
  3. infamy
    a state of extreme dishonor
    Yesterday, December 7th, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
  4. solicitation
    an entreaty addressed to someone of superior status
    The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.…
  5. maintenance
    activity involved in keeping something in good working order
    The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.…
  6. will
    a fixed and persistent intent or purpose
    I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
  7. grave
    causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
    There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
  8. negotiation
    a discussion intended to produce an agreement
    Japan has continued sincere negotiations with the Government of the United States since last April.
  9. obstruct
    hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
    Ever since Japan’s war with China, the Japanese Government has tried to restore peace. However, the United States has resorted to every possible measure to assist China and to obstruct peace between Japan and China.
  10. embargo
    a government order imposing a trade barrier
  11. dispatch
    send away towards a designated goal
    The Government of Japan and the United States will not dispatch armed forces into any of the regions, excepting French Indo-China, in the Southeastern Asia and the Southern Pacific area.…
  12. advocate
    speak, plead, or argue in favor of
    The American Government advocates, in the name of world peace, ideas that are favorable to it.
  13. mutual
    concerning each of two or more persons or things
    But the peace of the world may only be reached by discovering a mutually acceptable formula through recognition of the reality of the situation and mutual appreciation of one another’s position.
  14. facilitate
    make easier
    An attitude that ignores realities and imposes one’s selfish views upon others will not facilitate successful negotiations.…
  15. diplomacy
    negotiation between nations
  16. economic
    of or relating to production and management of wealth
    The American Government objects to settling international issues through military pressure, but it uses economic pressure instead.
  17. condemn
    express strong disapproval of
    Using economic pressure to deal with international relations should be condemned.
  18. inhumane
    reflecting a lack of pity or compassion
    It is, at times, more inhumane than military pressure.
  19. dominant
    exercising influence or control
    It is impossible not to reach the conclusion that the American Government desires to maintain and strengthen its dominant position in East Asia.
  20. counter
    in the opposite direction
    The Japanese Government cannot tolerate that, since it directly runs counter to Japan’s fundamental policy to enable each nation to enjoy its proper place in the world.…
  21. earnest
    characterized by a firm, sincere belief in one's opinions
    Thus, the earnest hope of the Japanese Government to preserve the peace of the Pacific through cooperation with the American Government has finally been lost.
Created on Wed Aug 05 16:32:50 EDT 2020 (updated Wed Aug 26 14:54:12 EDT 2020)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.