Answer: B. They tried to gain as much territory in the Pacific as possible.
The Japanese government attacked Pearl Harbor just after The United States cut off oil export to Japan at the beginning of the summer of 1941. 80% of Japan’s oil came from the United States. Japan depended heavily on the US oil supplies as its navy was unable to function. Out of emotional impulse, Japan retaliated and on the 7th of December, 1941, just before 8am, the Japanese struck. The Japanese had one aim; to destroy and cripple the entire US fleet hoping they could have free reign of the Pacific. The US was unprepared for the attack and Japan wreaked havoc on the US’s naval fleet.