I think hindsight plays a big role in how WAR is defined... For example, if a bombing or attack occurs right now at this moment from a country you never had an issue with...a good chance you will not call it a WAR unless that country "declares" it a WAR. In contrast, if you view something that has been occurring multiple times again and again...over a long period...a good chance you will call it a WAR even if the other country never declares it as a WAR. Now throw in words like "revolution", "rebellion", "riots" and "insurgency"...it may mean one thing today as it is occurring but years from now...it may be called a War or Conflict by politicians and armchair quarterbacks. It becomes more complicated when another country defines it differently based upon their own personal history regardless if that other country was involved or not involved. Confused now ? You shouldn't be. wrbtrader
Within hours after Pearl Harbor...it was called an "attack" on broadcast radio and the early morning newspaper editions. Yet, many called it a "surprise attack" while Japan had declared WAR on the U.S... Hours later, the United States then declared WAR on Japan. A few days later, Germany declared WAR on the United States. That then prompted the United States to declare WAR on Germany and Italy. Those were fucked up times. U.S. citizens living on the coasts...civilians were arming themselves if/when further attacks occurred after what looked like country after country begin declaring WAR on each other...global chaos. That declaration by Germany prompted conspiracy theories at that time that Germany collaborated on–or even masterminded–the attack on Pearl Harbor. Hitler heard the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor...he was surprised even though he knew it would eventually happen and had started preparing for Japan attacking the United States somewhere. Therefore, he pledged to Japan to support them when such happens. Therefore, as you stated...after Pearl Harbor everyone considered the U.S. to be at war with Japan. That's another word I forgot to mention that can quickly change after being used..."attack". Oddly, Canada had declared WAR on Germany a few years earlier in 1939 because of its close ties to Britain but the U.S. did not declare WAR in similar when Canada did...mainly because the U.S. believed it was best to build up its military instead of antagonizing Germany. wrbtrader
During the attack on Pearl Harbor...they were soldiers and trained to "battle". Thus, the word "WAR" was not used by soldiers as they were being "attacked" (bombed, shot at). In contrast, the words "battle" and "attack" were being used during the attack and it then changed to WAR after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Soldiers were alerting each other during the "attack" on Pearl Harbor. They were specifically yelling we're being "attacked" along with profanities...not yelling we're at WAR. Another way to explain it..if someone drops a bomb on my house when I'm not at WAR...my first thoughts will not be WAR. Instead, my first thoughts will be I'm being "attacked" and my next thoughts will be I must now "battle" (fight back) to survive. The next day after Congress declares WAR...if I'm then "attacked" again...I will have some thoughts that I'm at WAR during that new ATTACK. Yet, if Congress does not declare WAR...that new attack will be viewed as another attack, battle or maybe "conflict" even when I retaliate...if it continues for many months or years even if my government still does not declare WAR...I will most likely view it as a WAR. This is why almost every documentation of Pearl Harbor involves the theme... The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike. Yet, we would learn very soon afterwards that the attacker (Japan) had declared WAR on the United States and then the United States declared WAR on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor (not during the attack). Germany then declared WAR on the United States. United States then declared WAR on Germany and Italy...pure evil chaos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor wrbtrader
According to the dictionary I already have it.Once you figure out what a dictionary is and how it used you'll get it too
You had it right your first time but then you argued and tried to change what you originally stated. ...after Pearl Harbor everyone considered the U.S. to be at war with Japan (your words). Class dismissed. wrbtrader
Well it wouldn't fit the dictionarys definition of war before Pearl Harbor. Class dismissed but I suggest some after class tutoring.