Essay On Roosevelt's Day Of Infamy

Abigail Lewis Mrs. Miller English 101 28 March 2024 Day of Infamy World War Two was a major event in the 1900s and since then the world has changed drastically. This part of history had numerous pieces of famous rhetoric that contributed to the war's progression or regression, but there were also smaller important addresses spoken during World War Two. One such example was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy address to the U.S. Congress in 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was the first address to be broadcast on television across the United States. He proposed the United States of America finally join the war, recognizing the dangers of Hitler’s power over Germany and Japan’s continuous growth in military power, land, and

stepping in after Japan’s unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor, the war would shift significantly. Ultimately, Roosevelt's address was one of the most important and effective speeches he had to give, and in turn it touched and strengthened the hearts of the American people to fight for freedom to all nations, and alter the rhythm of the war. On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Japan launched a premeditated attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was an unseen attack and created massive shock in Hawaii and the rest of the country. In response to the aftermath, Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke to the nation two days after and delivered his address, the Day of Infamy. Roosevelt’s speech made a substantial, positive impact by advancing the United States of America to participate in the war as he “had compelling reasons for feeling that, as de facto leader of the free world, he had a grave responsibility to oppose both Hitler's Germany and its Tripartite Pact (Axis)” (Burtness and Ober). Roosevelt’s speech was in hopes of touching the American citizens by placing emphasis on sympathy and unity, overall empowering the country. In his speech he specifically utilized repetition; specifically