Final answer:
The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack by the Japanese navy on the American Pacific Fleet in 1941, resulting in significant casualties and the US declaration of war against Japan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bombing of Pearl Harbor refers to a surprise attack launched by the Japanese navy on the American Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 US servicemen and greatly reduced the effectiveness of the fleet. However, it failed to destroy US aircraft carriers and led to the US declaration of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy.