The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was supposed to be a pre-emptive act to prevent the US Navy from meddling in their military plans. Why Japan would attempt to confront a force it knew it could not defeat is still up for debate. Japan was already engaged in a four-year war with China and was discussing an attack on the Soviet Union, so why engage in a war with a country with a huge industrial advantage? The United States was not only on the opposite side of the world, but it had a much stronger military force. The United States had more weapons, tactics, and military forces than other countries. When they attacked Pearl Harbor, Japan chose to fight a war with an enemy that had the capability to wage an unstoppable war against them. After World War I, Japan had difficulty adapting to the new world. “While its economy was still primarily agricultural, rapid population growth (to over 80 million) had reduced the amount of land suitable for agriculture. Many people lived in small houses without running water. In a country the size of California, only one in six acres was farmland. This put great pressure on the Japanese government to find more space and land for its people.” (America Enters World War II, page 12). Japan attempted to change its agricultural-based economic system to an industry-based system. “But the international system of trade barriers and tariffs, established by the United States and other industrial powers to protect domestic production, has hindered Japan's industrial expansion.” (America Enters World War II, page 13). Many of the materials Japan needed were found in neighboring countries controlled by European powers. Japan has begun to question its rights to Asian markets and raw materials. “J…half of the card…ip, and moved it against the docks. The left side would lift and you could feel the decks, the compartments, being penetrated... You were starting to get scared. I don't know about the others, but I thought, 'Man, I could get killed.'" (Remembering Pearl Harbor page 16). Japan's attack was a smart tactical move against the United States. The plan was twofold. First , if they had attacked the United States, they would have drawn attention to what was happening in Europe and all sources would have been directed to the western half of the United States. Secondly, since the attack was so rapid and unexpected, the United States was caught by surprise. Since Japan attacked the largest base in the Pacific, Japan believed that it would be able to cripple US defenses for a while. “The Japanese did not realize that the attack of December 7, 1941 would have been a rallying cry for Americans who had not joined the troops.")