Rhetorical Analysis Pearl Harbor Speech

In his Pearl Harbor address speech, Franklin Delano Roosevelt speaks about the events occurring on December 7, 1941. The Empire of Japan had recently attacked the United States naval base of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The Japanese also attacked other islands along the Pacific, which would soon result in the United States declaring war on Japan. Essentially, Roosevelt started a seven year war by simply using words to address the actions of the Japanese. Determined to make his points clear and valid, the President uses a number of logical facts and additional reappearance in words. In the speech, Roosevelt uses logos and anaphora a different number of times in order to inform United States citizens about why it is important to go to war with

As he begins his speech, Roosevelt explains the actions the Japanese took in order to attack Pearl Harbor. Roosevelt states, “Japan makes it obvious that the attack was already planned many days or even weeks ago” (Roosevelt paragraph 4). Days or weeks before the event, Japan was having peace talks with the United States, therefore deceiving the nation. The point Roosevelt tries to get across repeatedly is that Japan uses a deceitful tactic for the purpose of killing hundreds of innocent Americans. Roosevelt presents factual evidence in the hope that his audience will develop a pronounced hatred towards the inconsiderate Japanese leaders. In addition, Roosevelt goes into the key details regarding the Pearl Harbor attacks. Through explaining the casualties of Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt says “Very many American lives have been lost… [and] American ships have been reported torpedoed…” (Roosevelt 5). In his words of sympathy, Roosevelt seeks vengeance for the people lost on December 7th. A lost life will be an effective point in any speech because almost everyone has a loved one, who they do not want to lose. This logos is especially effective in Roosevelt’s speech for when Americans loose something, they want action. All in all, Roosevelt’s words demonstrate Japan’s selfish and harsh actions to a country who only wishes for

Along with the Japanese attacking Hawaii, he mentions the other locations the Japanese Empire targeted. Roosevelt repeats “Last night… Last night… Last night the Japanese attacked the Philippine Islands” (Roosevelt 7-9). Hawaii was only one of the many targeted islands in the Japanese offensive, it just happens to be the largest of the attacks. The places assaulted consist of Guam, Hong Kong, Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and Midway Island. Roosevelt mentions those locations by using the repetition of “last night” for the purpose of showing his audience he cares for more than just the United States. The way Roosevelt delivers the device, comes off as being powerful and meaningful to make it known the Japanese will have to pay for what they have done. Soon, he begins to address the dangers America will face. Roosevelt refers that “there is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger” (Roosevelt 17). This smaller anaphora helps Roosevelt’s audience to realize Roosevelt remains a true American with the same ideals as the majority of his audience possess. He understands his people and relates to the sense of danger in their lives. It is at this point that Roosevelt’s audience realizes some form of aggression has to be taken against Japan. Overall, the repetitions Roosevelt mentions in the Pearl Harbor speech help