Brittany Ashinhurst

Jolynne Berrett

ENG 1010-052

March 19, 2014

Perl Harbor Address to the Nation by Franklin D. Roosevelt

On December 7
th
, 1941 the Japanese Empire did a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S

Navy Base located in Hawaii. The attack did severe damage to many ships and to the naval base

causing many soldiers to lose their lives. Up until the attack the United States were at peace and

still working on maintaining that peace with the Japanese Empire. On December 8
th
, 1941

President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation about the attack on Pearl Harbor. President

Roosevelt used the rhetorical triangle to communicate his plans of action to declare war on Japan

to the Members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The logos claim is by far the strongest. President Roosevelt names one by one everything

the Japanese had done the previous 24 hours. Yesterday, the Japanese government also

launched an attack against Malaya. 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. And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway

Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific

area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves.

(http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm)

The ethos side is that President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President of the United

States. As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be

taken for our defense (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm).

President Roosevelt was the 32
nd
President of the United States serving 4 terms from 1933-1945.

Roosevelt worked alongside Britishs Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviets Leader

Joseph Stalin in leading the allies against Nazi Germany and Japan during WWII and time of

worldwide economic depression. As an active military leader, Roosevelt implemented an overall

war strategy on two fronts that ended in the defeat of the Axis Powers and the development of

the world's first atom bomb .He was also a Lawyer and a Statesman before becoming President.

The presidents credibility is compelling and with his military experience it gives you faith that he

can lead the nation during a time of war.

Pathos is also very strong in this speech. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact

that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed

forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph

so help us God. (http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm). Hearing this

speech made me feel the pain and sadness the nation was feeling. President Roosevelt played off

the Nations emotions of sadness, fear and shock of our country being attacked and uses that to

lead into that we are confident and determined and will defend our country.

President Roosevelt was successful in using the rhetoric triangle. He persuaded Members

of the Senate and House of Representatives to declare war on Japan and on August 6
th
1945, an

atomic bomb was dropped over the Japanese city Hiroshima and 3 days later a second one was

dropped over Nagasaki. Analyzing this speech was very inspiring. President Roosevelt was a

very compelling leader and was able to reach the heart of the Nation with this speech. Pathos and

Logos were both very similar and the strongest because our Nation was still bleeding from the

attack from the day before making our Nation unite and come together.


Work Cited

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrpearlharbor.htm