Pearl Harbor was certainly one of the most dramatic turning points in US history, with all the elements that accompany an epic drama: heroes, villains, propaganda and conspiracy theories. It has pushed the country from an isolationist continent to the world stage. World War II changed the way the world saw the United States and the way Americans saw themselves. As a result of Pearl Harbor and the war, the United States accepted the predominant role of world leadership. The tragedy of Pearl Harbor shocked and united the American people in one purpose and objective to a greater extent than any other event before or since. As Americans woke up on a lazy Sunday morning in paradise, little did they know that in a matter of minutes their lives would change forever. Sailors, soldiers and airmen watched in horror as the U.S. fleet, including mighty battleships, burned and sank to the bottom of the shallow blue harbor. The calamity sparked mass chaos and confusion. Numerous false rumors were spread, including that Japanese paratroopers were invading Hawaii and that subsequent assaults were imminent. Most importantly, no one knew how to react since it was the first time since the War of 1812 that Americans had been attacked on their own soil. While the nation was just recovering from the Great Depression, with optimism on the horizon the American people really had no desire to engage in foreign wars. However, President Franklin Roosevelt was aware of the actions taking place in Europe and Asia and could foresee the inevitable danger of the United States to the free world if the United States did not take sides in the war. Although Americans favored neutrality, the U.S. administration knew that it would only be a matter of time before the United States entered the war. The timing of Pearl Harbor allowed Roosevelt to pursue his interventionist agenda unhindered. This, along with some details, such as the lack of aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor, led some to believe that Roosevelt had been warned in advance of the attack and intentionally provoked the Japanese into opening the back door to war. Twenty-three hours after the initial assault, Roosevelt declared war and assured that "this day will live in infamy..." in his address to Congress. In the end the Americans got away with it and became their own heroes; Admiral Yamamoto made a prophetic observation shortly after December 7: "I fear that all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with terrible resolve.".