Pearl Harbor Address

On December 7, 1941, Japanese naval and air forces attacked the American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The next day President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress. In about 500 words he described the attack, listed a string of other Japanese strikes across the Pacific, and asked Congress to declare that a state of war existed. Congress declared war on Japan that same day, and the speech became widely known as the ‘Day of Infamy’ speech.

The claim

Japan’s attack was deliberate and deceptive, part of a wider offensive across the Pacific, and it has put the United States in grave danger. Congress should therefore declare that a state of war has existed with Japan since December 7, and the nation will win.

The rhetorical situation who, to whom, when, and why

What Pearl Harbor Address says

Roosevelt addresses the Vice President, the Speaker and the members of both houses of Congress. He states that on December 7, 1941, ‘a date which will live in infamy’, naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan suddenly and deliberately attacked the United States. He explains that the two countries were at peace and, at Japan’s request, were still holding talks about keeping peace in the Pacific. One hour after Japanese planes began bombing Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador and a colleague delivered a formal reply to a recent American message. The reply said further negotiation seemed useless, but it contained no threat or hint of war. Roosevelt argues that Hawaii’s distance from Japan shows the attack was planned days or even weeks earlier, and that in the meantime Japan deliberately deceived the United States with false statements and expressions of hope for peace. He reports severe damage to American naval and military forces and says that very many American lives have been lost. American ships have also been reported torpedoed between San Francisco and Honolulu. He then lists further attacks: on Malaya yesterday; on Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands and Wake Island last night; and on Midway Island this morning. Japan, he concludes, has launched a surprise offensive across the Pacific, and the American people already understand what it means for the nation’s safety. As Commander in Chief, he has ordered all measures for defense. The nation will always remember the character of the attack. However long it takes, the American people will win absolute victory and make sure this kind of treachery never endangers them again. Hostilities exist, and the country is in grave danger. With confidence in the armed forces and in the people’s determination, the nation will triumph. Finally, Roosevelt asks Congress to declare that since Japan’s unprovoked and dastardly attack on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

The line of reasoning how the argument moves

1. Opens with the date and the actParagraphs 1 and 2 address Congress formally and state the attack in a single sentence marked by the word ‘infamy’. Leading with the plain fact gives the rest of the speech its footing.
2. Proves bad faithParagraphs 3 and 4 set the peace talks against the timing of the attack and reason from Hawaii’s distance that it was planned in advance. This evidence of deception comes early because it justifies the anger that follows.
3. Reports the damageParagraph 5 describes the losses in Hawaii and at sea, without giving figures. The cost makes the threat concrete before the scope widens.
4. Widens to the whole PacificParagraphs 6 to 11 list attack after attack and conclude that Japan has begun a surprise offensive throughout the Pacific. The list shows that this was not a single raid but a war already under way.
5. Asserts resolveParagraphs 12 to 16 move from what Japan did to what America will do: defense measures, lasting memory and absolute victory, then a blunt restatement of the danger (paragraph 15) answered by confidence in the armed forces and the people (paragraph 16).
6. Makes the requestParagraph 17 asks Congress to declare that a state of war has existed since December 7. The formal request comes last, once the case for it is complete.

The full text paragraphs numbered for citation

Text: National Archives transcription of the address to a joint session of Congress, December 8, 1941.

Paragraph by paragraph what each part does

1. 1

   Paragraphs 1 to 2: The date and the attack

   Roosevelt formally addresses the Vice President, the Speaker and the members of the Senate and House. He states that on December 7, 1941, the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan, and calls it a date which will live in infamy.

   Why it mattersThe opening puts the whole case into one sentence. Its passive construction keeps the United States in the position of the nation acted upon.

2. 2

   Paragraphs 3 to 4: Talks and deception

   The two nations were at peace and still negotiating at Japan’s request. An hour after the bombing of Oahu began, Japan’s ambassador delivered a reply that held no threat or hint of war. Roosevelt argues that Hawaii’s distance from Japan shows the attack was planned days or weeks ahead, while Japan deliberately deceived the United States with false statements.

   Why it mattersThese paragraphs supply the evidence of bad faith that turns an attack into a betrayal, appealing both to reason and to the audience’s sense of fair dealing.

3. 3

   Paragraph 5: The damage

   Roosevelt reports severe damage to American naval and military forces in the Hawaiian Islands and says very many American lives have been lost. He adds that American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

   Why it mattersThe paragraph appeals to grief and fear while giving no numbers, which keeps the report grave and brief.

4. 4

   Paragraphs 6 to 11: Attacks across the Pacific

   Roosevelt lists attacks on Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island and Midway Island, most of them in one-sentence paragraphs. He concludes that Japan has undertaken a surprise offensive throughout the Pacific, that the facts speak for themselves, and that the American people already understand the danger.

   Why it mattersThe rapid list widens the threat far beyond Hawaii, and its repeated openings make the offensive feel relentless.

5. 5

   Paragraphs 12 to 14: Defense and resolve

   As Commander in Chief, Roosevelt says he has directed that all measures be taken for defense. He says the whole nation will always remember the character of the attack. He promises that however long it takes, the American people will win absolute victory and make certain this form of treachery never endangers them again.

   Why it mattersRoosevelt shifts from reporting to leading, drawing on the authority of his office and claiming to speak for Congress and the people.

6. 6

   Paragraphs 15 to 17: Hostilities exist

   Roosevelt states that hostilities exist and that the nation’s people, territory and interests are in grave danger. He expresses confidence in the armed forces and the people and closes that thought with ‘so help us God’. He then asks Congress to declare that a state of war has existed with Japan since the attack on December 7.

   Why it mattersThe blunt short sentence and the oath-like close build to the formal request, the action the whole speech exists to obtain.

Rhetorical choices what the writer does, and why it works

People & audiences

Big ideas in Pearl Harbor Address

Key quotes

The conclusion of Pearl Harbor Address, explained

The last three paragraphs move from danger, to confidence, to action. Paragraph 15 opens with two words, ‘Hostilities exist.’ The short sentence leaves no room for doubt. Roosevelt then says there is ‘no blinking at the fact’ that the nation’s people, territory and interests are in grave danger. Paragraph 16 answers that danger with confidence in the armed forces and in ‘the unbounding determination of our people’, and ends with ‘so help us God’. The phrase sounds like the close of an oath, and the plural ‘us’ joins the president, Congress and the public in one pledge. Paragraph 17 is the formal request. Roosevelt asks Congress to declare that a state of war ‘has existed’ since the attack on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The wording matters. He does not ask Congress to start a war; he asks it to recognize that Japan has already started one. That framing fits the rest of the speech, which presents the United States as a nation at peace that was attacked. Ending on the request also respects the constitutional order. The president can report and direct defense, as Roosevelt says he has done in paragraph 12, but Congress declares war. After making the case, he hands the decision to the body that holds that power. The date in the final sentence repeats the date in paragraph 2, so the address closes where it began. Congress declared war on Japan that same day, with one dissenting vote in the House.

Common misreadings

AP practice a rhetorical analysis prompt in the exam's style

Practice prompt written by StoryBites, not taken from a College Board exam. See the AP Language free-response guide for how answers are scored.

Test yourself

Flashcards flip, self-grade, and the deck remembers what you know

On December 7, 1941, Japan made a surprise attack on American forces in Hawaii. The next day President Roosevelt spoke to Congress. He said Japan attacked while the two countries were still talking about peace. He listed other places across the Pacific that Japan had just attacked. He promised that America would win in the end. Then he asked Congress to say the country was at war with Japan, and Congress did that the same day.

Compare & connect

Discussion and essay prompts:

Key questions students ask

• What is the purpose of FDR’s Pearl Harbor speech
• Why did Roosevelt call December 7 a date which will live in infamy
• What rhetorical devices does FDR use in the Day of Infamy speech
• Who was the audience for the Pearl Harbor address
• What places did Japan attack according to FDR’s speech
• What did Roosevelt ask Congress to do on December 8 1941