This Grade 5 history worksheet uses 17 multiple-choice questions to examine the events, decisions, and historical context surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor. Students identify the year of the attack, the U.S. president at the time, the meaning of the “date which will live in infamy” speech, and the status of U.S.-Japan relations before the attack. They also recall details about Japan’s expansion, the invasion of China, U.S. economic sanctions and the oil embargo, and Japan’s objective of limiting the American Navy.
The questions also ask students to connect key evidence and consequences, including President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s request that Congress declare war, the number of American ships damaged or destroyed, and the historical warning about remembering the past. This free printable worksheet is designed for Grade 5 history instruction, review, or formative assessment. It includes a complete answer key so teachers can quickly check students’ understanding of Pearl Harbor and the events that led to U.S. involvement in World War II.
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Pearl Harbor
Total questions: 17
Name
Class
Date
1.
What year did the attack on Pearl Harbor take place?
a)
1939
b)
1941
c)
1962
d)
1983
2.
Who was president at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor?
a)
Winston Churchill.
b)
President Bush.
c)
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, (FDR).
d)
President Lincoln
3.
The President said that Dec, 7th would be a date which would live in ___________________?
a)
Infamy.
b)
Annoyance.
c)
Frustration.
d)
Grief.
4.
Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States was at ______________ with Japan.
a)
Peace.
b)
Open War.
c)
Neutrality.
d)
Cold War.
5.
Which one of these was NOT a microphone on the President's desk during his speech?
a)
NBC
b)
CBS
c)
MBS
d)
FOX
6.
The President said that "no matter how long it may take us, The American people will __________________________________"
a)
Win through to absolute victory.
b)
Sign a peace treaty with Japan.
c)
Surrender before the fighting gets too bad.
d)
Destroy Germany.
7.
What was the last thing the President asked Congress to do in the speech?
a)
Raise taxes.
b)
Lower taxes.
c)
Declare war.
d)
Make peace.
8.
There are now less than ____________ Pearl Harbor survivors left.
a)
10,000
b)
5,000
c)
700
d)
300
9.
Finish this quote: "Those who do not remember history are ____________________________________________________."
a)
"lucky because it's a lot of work."
b)
"foolish because they have bad memories."
c)
"no different than anyone else."
d)
"bound to repeat it."
10.
Finish this sentence: Japan is an island nation with _____________ natural resources.
a)
many
b)
some
c)
few
d)
no
11.
Where did Japan invade first?
a)
America.
b)
Australia.
c)
China.
d)
Brazil.
12.
How did the United States respond to Japan invading China?
a)
We used economic sanctions.
b)
We went to war with them immediately.
c)
We wrote them angry letters.
d)
We movies that were embarrassing to the Japanese.
13.
In 1941, The American President announced a trade embargo on what resource?
a)
Steel.
b)
Lumber.
c)
Oil.
d)
Silver.
14.
Why did Japan want the America Navy "out of business?"
a)
Without a navy, America couldn't stop Japan from expanding.
b)
Japan hated America for no good reason.
c)
Japan was jealous of America's navy.
d)
Japan wanted revenge on America's navy for past wars.
15.
How many American ships did Japan damage or destroy?
a)
7
b)
14
c)
21
d)
28
16.
How many Americans lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack?
a)
500
b)
1,200
c)
1,800
d)
2,400
17.
6 months after Pearl Harbor, the American navy got back at the Japanese in which battle?
a)
Battle of Yorktown.
b)
Battle of Trenton.
c)
Battle of Midway.
d)
Battle of Gettysburg.
Answer Key
Pearl Harbor
Total questions: 17
1.
b)
1941
2.
c)
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, (FDR).
3.
a)
Infamy.
4.
a)
Peace.
5.
d)
FOX
6.
a)
Win through to absolute victory.
7.
c)
Declare war.
8.
d)
300
9.
d)
"bound to repeat it."
10.
c)
few
11.
c)
China.
12.
a)
We used economic sanctions.
13.
c)
Oil.
14.
a)
Without a navy, America couldn't stop Japan from expanding.
15.
c)
21
16.
d)
2,400
17.
c)
Battle of Midway.
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FAQs
What does the Pearl Harbor worksheet cover, and how does it help Grade 5 students learn the topic?
This worksheet covers the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s response, and the events that contributed to U.S. involvement in World War II. Its 17 multiple-choice questions have students recall dates, people, speech details, Japan’s invasion of China, U.S. sanctions and the oil embargo, Japan’s military goal, and the damage to American ships. Together, the items build chronological knowledge and help students connect political and economic actions with the attack.
How can I use this Pearl Harbor worksheet to teach the causes and consequences of the attack?
Introduce the worksheet with a short timeline: Japan’s invasion of China, U.S. economic sanctions and oil embargo, the attack in 1941, and Roosevelt’s request that Congress declare war. Have students complete the multiple-choice questions individually, then discuss why Japan wanted the American Navy unable to stop its expansion and how the attack changed U.S. involvement in the war. Use the speech and quote-completion items to connect factual recall with the language used to describe the event’s significance.
What mistakes should I watch for when students complete the Pearl Harbor multiple-choice worksheet?
Watch for students confusing 1941 with another year, identifying U.S.-Japan relations before the attack as neutrality rather than peace, or selecting a familiar president instead of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Students may also mix up Japan’s invasion of China with its later conflict with the United States, confuse the oil embargo with another resource, or choose an incorrect conclusion from Roosevelt’s speech. Review the answer choices with students and ask them to explain the historical clue that supports each selected answer.
How do I assign and grade the Pearl Harbor worksheet?
The Pearl Harbor worksheet is available as a printable PDF and as a digital quiz on Wayground. It includes a complete answer key for the 17 multiple-choice questions, and printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app. The PDF option can also support schools that are reducing screen time.
How can I differentiate this Pearl Harbor worksheet for my students?
Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or increase the font size so the 17 multiple-choice items are easier to read. You can also apply a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language, while keeping the historical questions and answer choices focused on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt’s speech, and the events leading to U.S. involvement in World War II.
Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?
Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.
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