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Rhetorical Analysis Of Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Speech

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On December 8th, 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s delivered his “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation” speech to Congress the day after the Japanese attacked the U.S. Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii. The speech would go on to be known as one of the greatest and most remembered speeches throughout history, gaining several different titles such as “Pearl Harbor Speech”, “A Day Which Will Live in Infamy”, and “Day of Infamy”. Roosevelt’s strong choice of words set out to convey the sense of betrayal that had transpired between the United States and the Emperor of Japan.
Roosevelt’s desire to encourage Congress to declare on the Japanese would be well know in his speech. “December 7th, 1941, a day that will live in infamy” (Para 1) would …show more content…

He uses key words to make memorable phrases though out his speech. The word “infamy” would be a key works that would set the tone of his speech, which he would then go on to use pathos to convey to his audience the emotional purpose and aim to enter into World War II. Roosevelt would state that the “United States had originally been a Nation at peace with the Japanese and suddenly and deliberately attacked.” Reminding his audience that at the time, before the attack the United States was neutral with little involvement into the war that had been raging on in …show more content…

Roosevelt directs his attention into taking measures in the defense of the Nation. Stating “Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interest are in grave danger.” (Para 11) communicating to Congress and the American people the feel of heavy betrayal. “Our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us” (Para 8) rallying and calling the American people to arms as well as using his position as president to state, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.” (Para

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Therefore, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt speech “A Date Which Will Live in Infamy” is well elaborated due to he included some rhetorical devices that helped him to achieve his purpose of convincing the congress and people to support join WW2. The words and rhetoricals devices President Roosevelt applied on his speech had a great importance because The United States of America joined to WW2 and american people agreed and supported the war. This speech was delivered a long time ago, but its structure is similar to some of today's speeches. The purpose of President Roosevelt was to convince the congress to declare war due to the fact Pearl Harbor had a unexpected attack and get people support of war. To achieve his purpose he used some rhetorical

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“December 7th 1941- A date that will live in infamy”. This sentence is forever engrained in the minds of the youth for its significant impact in American History. Roosevelt’s response to the horrific betrayal of the Japanese Empire by bombing Pearl Harbor is tremendous significant. Roosevelt’s timing as he met with the Congress during their joint session and urges the congress to declare war on Japan, it brought America into World War II since most of the world was already at war.

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The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor the morning on December 7th, 1941. On December 8th, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed the nation with a powerful speech, “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation”. It was one of the most influential speeches in history. The purpose of great speeches like those is to persuade people of other’s beliefs. Political leaders usually use rhetorical techniques to persuade their audiences of their beliefs.

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Roosevelt was a very well-respected President. He also happened to be the only President in American history to ever to receive a third term. Having three terms alone shows his credibility and the trust that his listeners had in him. Though he was so well respected and obviously knew he was much more important than most Americas, right from the start of his radio broadcast he addresses the people listening as “My Friends” which implies he is talking to everybody on one specific level. It is also Franklin D. Roosevelt admitting to his listeners that he is no better than anyone else and he needed the listeners of his broadcast to leave his credibility unquestioned, because he knew that alone he could not defeat this Nazi power.

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The president stated “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.” (Roosevelt) He knew that when speaking to the crowd before him that playing to their ego was the most appropriate route, which proved to be true. In the social climate that they were in during this period it was the pest possible decision to ensure the desired outcome.

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On December 8th, 1941 Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered a speech to the House of Representatives, Members of the Senate, the House Speaker, to the Vice President, and to the American people. Franklin spoke of the incident of the attack on Pearl Harbor the day after it occurred. Mr. Roosevelt was stern and concise. He spoke on the occasion of tragedy to inform the House and the American people what the Japanese have done.

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December 7th, 1941 is a day changed the lives of all Americans. It is the day Japan deliberately attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii killing many U.S. soldiers and destroying a lot of the U.S. naval fleet. This day which turned the tide of World War II, up until this point the U.S. had not chosen to intervene in the conflict overseas, but Japan’s attack had given the U.S. a reason to enter the fight. This speech given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on December 8th, 1941 was his own passionate plea to the U.S. government and people to support the U.S. entering the war and fighting back against the tyranny occurring overseas. President Franklin D. Roosevelt effectively appeals to the emotions of the U.S. population by establishing trust with his audience through the use of emotional diction, and repetition which allow him to rally support for the war effort.

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Pearl Harbor Address “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked” (Roosevelt). A powerful quote from President Franklin D. Roosevelt which many are familiar with that helped to push the United States to formally declare war on the Japanese Empire. The United States was not expecting an attack from the Japanese Empire. “There had never been any attempt to cover the full 360 degrees around the islands…though it was well recognized that…was necessary in order to report the presence of enemy carriers.” The Japanese attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor for two hours leaving devastation behind, naval ships were destroyed and lives were lost.

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The day of infamy speech was meant to find reinsurance and comfort all americans people will remember this speech because of its strength in words. Franklin D. roosevelt achieved his purpose using loaded words, repetition, and a call to

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In response to the brutality, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, delivers his “Pearl Harbor Speech” claiming that Japan is the enemy of America. He strengthens his argument by harnessing the uses of diction, anaphora, and pathos. Roosevelt’s purpose is to convince Congress to declare war against Japan in order to defend the American people and their homes. Adopting a factual and urgent tone, Roosevelt reaches his

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On the mournful day of December 8th, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a speech to the nation informing them about the tragic attack by the empire of Japan on Pearl Harbor. The attacked occurred on the previous day before his speech, and he knew no matter what he had to say to the nation, it wouldn’t help. By waiting a day, he hoped it would have a greater impact on the people as a whole. Compared to other very popular speeches throughout history, this one is fairly short, but gets directly to the point. By doing this, he believed it would make everyone more engaged while also having more of a dramatic effect.

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President Roosevelt described “With confidence in our armed forces-with the unbounding determination of our people-we will gain the inevitable triumph-so help us God” (Roosevelt). President Bush speech explained, “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot the foundation of America” (Bush). In other words for Roosevelt’s speech explains that from our military and armed people we will stand strong from out great power. Bush speech shows how Al-Qaeda may have hurt us but they will not destroy us.

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