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Pearl Harbor Address Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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“December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy-” is when Pearl Harbor was suddenly and intentionally attacked by “naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” President Franklin Roosevelt in his speech asserts that the attack on Pearl Harbor is a justified reason for the United States to go to war, because of the damage and tragedy done to the nation. He supports this claim by, first using situational irony and diction appealing to logos, then anaphora appealing to pathos, finally authority appealing to ethos. President Roosevelt’s purpose is to persuade Congress in order to convince them into allowing the United States to enter the war. President Roosevelt begins his speech to the American people and Congress by recalling the events …show more content…

This inserts confidence into not only the soldiers, but the nation as well. He uses his credibility “As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy” to reassure them “that all measures [will] be taken in for [their] defense which keeps them optimistic that they will win the war. Authority is also shown since all of the information given to the people comes from the United States government, a trusted source to the citizens across the country. Especially, since Roosevelt provides additional details pertaining to the attack on Pearl Harbor and other attacks that the Japanese carried out in addition to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Therefore, Roosevelt’s credibility and use of authority influences the audience to believe what he is saying about the attack on Pearl Harbor. In conclusion, President Roosevelt’s desire to get The United States into World War II allowed his persuasive and informative speech to the audience, using rhetorical devices to form an effective argument. He uses situational irony and diction to explain the Pearl Harbor attack, anaphora to rally the American people into redirecting their emotions of sadness into hatred. Lastly, authority to inform the audience of what he plans to do. In brief, President Roosevelt uses his speech to prepare his audience of the declaration of The United States place in World War

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