Address To A Joint Session Of Congress Rhetorical Analysis Essay

On December 7, 1941, the United States was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor, and a day later, our president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt responded with a speech to influence the people to enlist in the draft and support for America joining World War II. At a time when America felt defeated, hopeless, and attacked, FDR responded with hope and determination to let the American people know that the United States would do everything in its power to defend themselves and obtain victory. As the president of the United States of America, it was Roosevelt’s job to lead and make the best decisions for the US based on what happened. He had to appeal to his audience with emotion, logic, and his authority.

In this speech, his intended audience was Congress,

He needed to grab the citizen’s of America attention because without their support, Roosevelt would not be admired or reelected as president so his view has to be unselfish and in agreement with majority of the people. FDR also needs to motivate and convince the people to stand with him because the United States needs people to enlist and become soldiers especially when they just entered World War II. Ideally, Roosevelt’s speech appeals to each member of the audience differently but has the same goal of support to join World War II and motivation to enlist in the draft.

After the Pearl Harbor attacks, America was in shock considering we were not involved in World War II and was not expecting this terrible incident to occur. Roosevelt’s speech motivated the America people very well considering hundreds of thousands enlisted into the draft. According to Andrea Lunsford and John Ruszkiewicz, "pathos is emotional appeal, powerful tools for influencing what people think and

Ethos according to Andrea Lunsford and John Ruszkiewicz is, “Three main elements-trustworthiness/credibility, authority, and unselfish or clear motives-add up to ethos” (Lunsford, Ruskiewicz 45). In his speech, Roosevelt says, “The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. (Roosevelt, Pearl Harbor Speech December 8, 1941). FDR demonstrates the authoritative quality of ethos in this quote. He has authority in this situation because he is the president of the United States and people commonly respect and admire our president. This is proven because Roosevelt was the only president who was reelected 4 terms so people respected and agreed with his tactics of presidency. After the attack, he pushed Americans to fight back and enlist to get vengeance for the innocent lives lost. He has the right to do so because he is the commander in chief and controls the armed forces. To prove people responded the same way as FDR, Mark LoProto wrote an article, Why Didn’t America Join the War Sooner, and says, “With one massive attack on American territory in 1941, the entire outlook of the country changed…. Congress reversed their vote of neutrality