Analysis Of The Infamy Speech

“A date which will live in infamy” is a phrase most associated with this day. An unprovoked attack aimed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 left the nation vulnerable to various outside powers. Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew the vital importance of creating and leading a crusade, so his purpose in addressing the nation was to declare war against Japan and rally the support of the citizens of America. Until the devastating bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japan had been considered an ally. Roosevelt’s speech was about bringing justice to the nation and being honest with the people about the terrible events that had just occurred. Roosevelt, serving as the thirty-second president of the United States, was in his second term when the attack happened.

December 7, 1941 is a day that will live with us forever. On December 8, 1941, the next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave one of the most patriotic speeches this country has heard. He used several different rhetorical devices, Ethos, Pathos, Logos, to strengthen his argument.  His speech was an argument that was trying to get his fellow americans to stand up and fight for our freedom. He came across many groups of people who were totally against going to war but his speech was very logical and filled with emotion many of his fellow Americans backed his idea. Since, President Roosevelt had won over the majority of the americans he was able to get us ready to go to war and avenge Pearl Harbor. When the country is attacked, and

“A date that shall live in infamy” (Line 2). This is a quote that many Americans have heard before. This infamous quote comes from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), in his Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation. FDR gave this speech in response to the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7th, 1941. The point of this speech was to persuade Congress into declaring war on the Axis Powers. This speech went on to fuel a nation into four years of war. As you know, the US joined the Allied Powers in WWII. This is because FDR was able to effectively use Pathos and Ethos to convince Congress to join WWII.

Hours after Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan, gaining worldwide headlines, giving millions unanswered questions, the speech, Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation was given one day after the event. On December 8th 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a speech to be remembered today, by using rhetorical devices and figurative language to strongly picture his message to the public, making great use of parallel structure, personification, parallelism, and climax ordering to enforce his key point of wanting Americans to stand up against the Japanese forces for the deliberate actions done towards there peaceful country, with no threat or hint of war or of an armed attack. With hopes of gathering support for the decision to declare war on Japan.

Franklin Delano Roosevelts statement was all that stronger for its direct insistence that this attack would be remembered forever. It was intended not merely as a personal response by the President, but as a statement on behalf of the entire American people in the face of a great collective trauma. In proclaiming the indelibility of the attack and expressing outrage at its "dastardly" nature, the speech worked to crystallize and channel the response of the nation into a collective response and resolve.

Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address was most effective due to its incredibly short length and simplistic structure. His speech was concise and very easy to understand; he clarified the nation of the Japanese attack without haste or panic, and gradually went into greater detail of the ambush and its immediate effects. He used straightforward reasoning to build his credibility as he urged the people to maintain their faith during these

“December 7th 1941- A date that will live in infamy.” This opening statement is the first powerful line said by President Roosevelt to the American people after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This greatness of this opening line will be forever be ingrained in the minds of every American citizen, especially the people who lived during the most significant war of the 20th century. The bombing of Pearl Harbor is an event that can never be forgotten, and President Roosevelt’s speech in response to this appalling attack is just as significant. The objective of this speech was to urge Congress to declare war on Japan. Roosevelt’s speech after Pearl Harbor is one of the more recognizable and important speeches in all of American history. His speech incorporates bountiful instances of rhetorical devices, such as logos, pathos, and ethos. By analyzing these rhetorical devices, one is able to see Roosevelt’s vigorous use of emotion, his strength in addressing his character and reputation rather than focusing too heavily upon appeals to logic and reason, ultimately to get the result he wants from his audience. The profound power of this speech resonates with all who read and hear it.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his war speech and asserted December 7, 1941 as, “a date which will live in infamy.” The United States’ naval bases stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii were struck by Japanese planes intentionally and promptly. The news of this attack on the Pearl Harbor shocked the world. It was devastating to the nation that were still in the throes of depression. Witnesses of this event painted a portrait of a nation stunned, but determined to rise again. The United States’ government had not disclosed a Pearl Harbor story to the public--that the U.S. had failed to act on advance information about a planned Japanese attack. Japan 's move against the United States was audacious enough to be considered no more than a slight possibility, although the potential for an attack had been widely discussed.

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a day which will live in infamy, the United States of America, was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Naval and Air Forces of the Empire of Japan," delivered by Franklin D. Roosevelt is regarded as one of the most important speeches given in US History to date. The speech was delivered to the State of the Union marking the United States' entrance into the Second World War against Japan and Germany.

“Yesterday, December 7th, 1941- a date which will live in infamy- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan” (1). These are the words Franklin Delano Roosevelt chose to begin his Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. FDR’s speech was a call to arms, and in his speech he expressed outrage towards Japan and confidence in inevitable triumph. The speech was a request to declare war against Japan and to bring the United States into World War II. FDR’s speech was successful in bringing the United States into World War II because FDR presented facts explaining why war needed to be declared and used righteous indignation

President Roosevelt helps appeal to the audience’s emotions through the use of pathos to unite them in the war effort. Throughout the speech Roosevelt states the events of the prior night in chronological order to inform the American people of the tragedy at hand. He goes on to explain the severity of the attack and how it left many American lives affected. The speech states, “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.” By stating the obvious loss of lives at

“A date which will live in infamy (Roosevelt).” There were three part to this attack, what lead to the attack, the actual attack and the aftermath. The world was at war and the United States didn’t want to get too involved until the attack happened. During the attack on Pearl Harbor the United States made the decision to join the War. The United States joining the war brought the most crucial years to follow along with the dropping of the atomic bomb. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the beginning of the a very long war that cost the lives of many people but brought a nation together.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation was an effective speech; because of three main reasons: repetition to prove a point, manipulative language, and inspiration throughout the speech.

Millions of Americans were used to hearing to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt speak on the radio. His fireside chats were a calming time for families to gather and listen to the leader of the country. But when citizens across the country turned on their radios on December 8th, 1941, they knew they weren't going to hear another talk by the fire, this would be done the next night when Roosevelt would expand on his short speech the day before. When FDR made his address during mid-day on the December 8th, he was informing congress and the nation of the treacherous attacks on the previous day and making a declaration of war on perpetrators; the Japanese Empire.

A very famous line from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s speech, “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation,” was the quote, “December 7th 1941, A date that will live in infamy.” This quote will always be remembered by Americans’ because it was said during a time of major grievance and worry. This speech was given a day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and led America to entering World War Two. FDR’s use of Pathos, Ethos and Logos was extremely successful in pushing America to declare war on the Japanese.