The attack on Pearl Harbor drew the U.S. into the war against Japan, which was ultimately highly destructive to Japan in human lives lost, destruction to Japan's economy and society, to say nothing of the nuclear bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. However, it also paved the way for the "benevolent" U.S. occupation that brought democracy, women's rights, and stability to Japan so that it would become the economic and technological power it is today.