What was the result of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941?

On December
7, 1941, the Japanese navy attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, thus bringing America
into WWII. The Japanese army was facing a shortage of fuel and material as America embargoed
airplane fuel and scrap iron to Japan because of its aggressive role in China and Southeast
Asia. Japanese leadership thought the best course of action to take would be to attack the
American fleet at Pearl Harbor, crippling any American offensive action against Japan and
potentially even convincing America not to get into the war. What the Japanese did not realize
was that it made most Americans pro-war out of a desire to avenge the deaths of over 2000
American servicemen. While the Japanese damaged or sunk the majority of the cruisers and
battleships stationed at Pearl Harbor, they did not damage the vital oil supplies on the island
or the aircraft carriers, which were out on maneuvers that morning and not located in the
harbor. America quickly replaced the battleships, and the aircraft carriers proved key in early
conflicts with Japan such as Doolittle's bombing raid over Tokyo and the Battle of Midway, both
of which happened in 1942 and played decisive factors in turning the tide of the war.
 

When America declared war on Japan, Germany also declared war on the United
States; by the end of 1941, all the key players of WWII were in place.