Rhetorical Analysis

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation declares that Japan is at war

with the United States. He shows that the United States must become also involved with the war

as a result of Japan's attack on American territory and also exemplifies what is now being

threatened because of this hostility. Roosevelt's purpose is to make clear America and her

interests have now been targeted by Japan in order to gain support from congress to defend the

nation from these hostilities and declare war against Japan. He is speaking to Congress with an

urgent tone to reflect the haste that is necessary when the country's liberty is jeopardized.

Roosevelt makes it clear to congress that there was neutrality between the United States

and Japan. He utilizes cause and effect to point out that the attack on Pearl Harbor is the end of

harmony between Japan and America. Franklin D. Roosevelt states, "The United States was at

peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with it's

government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific." He

explains that the United states believed that it had peaceful terms with Japan, and even had plans

to create peace beyond their borders. His use of the word "was" shows that these terms of peace

between the two nations is in now the past. This breaking of an alliance between the two nations

gives a sense of betrayal to Congress,. This shows that Japan is no longer an ally and has now

become an enemy to the United States and that Congress and the nation need to defend

themselves against their enemies.

Franklin D. Roosevelt also shows how everything Americans hold dear are now in danger

of the Japanese threat. Roosevelt uses his country's values as examples as to what is being

threatened. He explains, "Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our

territory, and our interests are in grave danger." By using