Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation Author: President Franklin D. Roosevelt Presentation by: Amy Puckett

What Was the History and Background of the Speech? The background of this speech was that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, a harbor where a naval base is located in Hawaii, on December 7, The Japanese had started bombing the American island of Oahu. The attack had caused many people to lose their lives and caused a lot of damage to the American naval and military forces. The Japanese had also attacked other places like Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and Midway Island. This was a very tragic time in the United State’s history. It devastated many people. They needed to be told that everything was going to be okay. This speech was given on December 8, 1941; just a day after the attack.

What is the Summary/Purpose of This Speech? In this speech Franklin D. Roosevelt explains to the people of the United States how the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. The Japanese had started bombing the American island of Oahu. The attack had caused many people to lose their lives and caused a lot of damage to the American naval and military forces. He says that the Japanese had also attacked other places like Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and Midway Island. He also informed the people what he was going to do about the attack.

What is the Summary/Purpose of This Speech? - Continued Roosevelt stated that he would have all measures taken for the defense of the United States. In this speech, he encourages the people that they will get through this time of hardship with a victory and that something like the tragic incident that happened in Hawaii will never happen to the Nation again.

What is the Author’s Point of View and Call to Action? The President’s call to action was that they were going to fight back to regain the thought that America would not take any attack from another country. He was going to start a war with Japan. He wanted to tell the American people that they were going to be alright and that they will win the battle. Roosevelt’s point of view point of view was that he was ready to get back at the Japanese for what they had done to the country. He didn’t think, by all means, that what the Japanese had did was right.

Analysis of the Speech In this speech there is some allusion in the first sentence. He says, “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” This is allusion because it refers to an actual event. Appeal to logic is used in this speech also. He states, “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.” This is qualified as appeal to logic because it gives facts that appeal to the listeners’ minds.

Analysis of Speech -Continued The President says, “Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This is used as parallelism because it uses the same sentence structure to point out the idea. Glittering generalities is used in a sentence in this speech when he says, “American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.” This is glittering generalities because it has positive meaning to the American people.

Analysis of Speech -Continued Appeal to emotion was used in the sentence that says, “With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God.” The reason that this is appeal to emotion is because it uses words that appeal to the people of America. They really needed to hear that everything was going to be fine after such an awful tragedy.

The Audio and Text of the Speech: The speech

My Reaction to the Speech This particular speech was very effective when it was given because he appealed to the people of the United States. It really made people calm down and realize that they were going to get passed this time and he encouraged the people that they were going to win the battle. The President says in the part of the speech, “With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph so help us God.” This is so moving because it comforted the people when they needed it most. I support the author’s opinion because the Japanese were wrong in what they did and deserved what they got from America.

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