Pearl Harbor vs 9/11: Difference and Comparison

Pearl Harbor and 9/11 were two unfortunate attacks that shook the entire world. They took place at different times, at different locations, and for different reasons.

Even the partakers of each of them differ from each other. Both attacks caused enormous casualties and losses. They even affected the lives of civilians massively.

Key Takeaways

1. Pearl Harbor was a surprise military attack by Japan on a U.S. naval base in Hawaii in 1941, while 9/11 was a series of coordinated terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on the U.S. in 2001.
2. Pearl Harbor led to the U.S. entering World War II, whereas 9/11 resulted in the launch of the War on Terror and the invasion of Afghanistan.
3. Pearl Harbor primarily targeted military assets, while 9/11 targeted civilian and military landmarks, causing a higher death toll and widespread fear among the public.

Pearl Harbor vs 9/11

Pearl Harbor was a surprise military attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. 9/11 refers to the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, in which four passenger airplanes were hijacked by terrorists and flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service perpetrated the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was carried out on a naval base of the United States which was situated in that area.

The attack was a military strike that took the United States by surprise. It caused over 2,335 deaths and 1,143 injuries.

The September 11 attacks were on a relatively larger scale and caused more deaths and injuries. It was carried out by a militant Islamist terrorist organization called al-Qaeda.

Four different planes were meant to be hijacked and crashed into the Twin Towers. One of the planes was intended to crash into Washington, D.C., but fortunately, missed.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Pearl Harbor	9/11
Meaning	It refers to the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.	It refers to the attacks on the Twin Towers at the world trade centre.
Date	It took place on 7 December 1941.	It took place on 11 September 2001.
Perpetrator	It was carried out by Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.	It was carried out by a militant Islamist terrorist group called al-Qaeda.
Scale	It was not as destructive as the latter.	It was on a relatively larger scale.
Aftermath	The Japanese were victorious.	The terrorists were apprehended and policies were made to avoid future attacks.

What is Pearl Harbor?

Pearl Harbor is a vernacular phrase that is used for the attack that took place on Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was carried out on 7 December 1941.

The perpetrator of the attack was the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. They decided to conduct a military strike on the United States naval base.

The reason for such an attack was that Japan wanted to clear the way for military actions in Southeast Asia over other territories located overseas.

They did not want any intervention from the United States Pacific Fleet. So, it took seven hours for the Air Service to take over several U.S.-held territories as well as carry out the Pearl Harbor attack.

There were more than 2,335 casualties for the United States and 64 casualties for the Japanese air fleet.

Many others were wounded. 68 civilians were killed as well. Along with this, there was a loss of many battleships, cruisers, and aircraft. However, it is relatively less when compared to 9/11.

The aftermath of the attack included the victory of the Japanese. It was also the reason for the United States to enter into World War II officially.

However, many conspiracy theories arose about the US and the British knowing about the attack in advance and using it as a means to push the US into the war.

What is 9/11?

9/11 is a vernacular term used for the attacks on the Twin Towers at World Trade Centre in the United States. They were planned by a militant Islamist terrorist group known as al-Qaeda.

The perpetrators of the attack were suspected to be Osama Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, as well as 17 other members of the terrorist organization.

The attack was because al-Qaeda looked at the United States as a far and weak enemy. Attacking them would lead to a massive reform in the Middle Eastern regime.

So, several planes were hijacked so that financial, personnel, and logistic support could be accessed without hassle.

A total of four planes were meant to be hijacked, out of which three were to be crashed into the Twin Towers. One of them was planned to be crashed into Washington, D.C. However, the hijacker failed and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.

A passenger revolt followed this.

After the attacks, there was immediate suspicion of al-Qaeda, for which various investigations were conducted. The US government acknowledged its weakness in planning and security.

Policies were made to prevent such massive and unfortunate attacks in the future.

Main Differences Between Pearl Harbor and 9/11

1. Pearl Harbor refers to the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, whereas 9/11 refers to the attacks on the Twin Towers at the world trade center.
2. Pearl Harbor occurred on 7 December 1941, whereas 9/11 occurred on 11 September 2001.
3. Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service carried out Pearl Harbor, whereas 9/11 was carried out by a militant Islamist terrorist group called al-Qaeda.
4. Pearl Harbor was not as destructive as the latter, whereas 9/11 was on a relatively larger scale.
5. After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese gained the victory, whereas after 9/11, the terrorists were apprehended, and we made corrective policies.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=0YeJAAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=difference+between+pearl+harbor+and+911&ots=eH7WFyCuFs&sig=kNRgDpgrE1mwzr_hQQ9bfiZ7G4I
2. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/44242/summary

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023