“The words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt will always resonate in conversations regarding Pearl Harbor. This speech mirrors his strong disapproval of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Through his ‘Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation,’ President Roosevelt sought to inform the country about the events that occurred on December 7th and rationalize America’s necessity to enter into war with Japan.”
The American people were profoundly affected by Roosevelt’s speech, as every word he spoke effectively served his purpose. Through the use of powerful and assertive language, Roosevelt successfully captivated the attention of the American public. One particularly persuasive statement he made was affirming that Japan’s Empire had intentionally launched a naval and air attack on the United States. His aim was to ensure that both Congress and the nation fully understood the exact facts surrounding this tragic event.
In his statement, he admits to being unaware of the upcoming attack on Pearl Harbor and describes it as unexpected. He also tries to clarify the relationship between the United States and Japan before the attack by stating that “The United States was in a state of peace with Japan and, at Japan’s request, maintained communication with its government and emperor to promote peace in the Pacific.” This disclosure gives us insight into the series of events that led to the tragic incident at Pearl Harbor.
President Roosevelt had two goals in his address. Firstly, he wanted to convey to the public that he saw a state of peace, not war, between the two nations. Secondly, he aimed to provide a justification for starting a conflict with the Empire of Japan. To support this argument, Roosevelt emphasized that “Japan’s premeditated attack on Hawaii is evident due to the geographical distance between our countries. The Japanese government intentionally deceived the United States with untrue statements and declarations of peaceful intentions leading up to this assault.”
In his address to the nation, Roosevelt aimed to create a feeling of horror among his audience by highlighting that Japan was deliberately fooling the American people. He wanted to show that despite claiming to seek peace, Japan was secretly getting ready for war. According to Roosevelt, after attacking Pearl Harbor, the Japanese did not stop there; they also attacked other countries and city-states nearby.
The President delivered a speech to convince the audience that both American citizens and neighboring countries faced danger if they could not defend themselves. The President stressed the need for time to overcome this planned invasion, but assured the American people that their inherent strength would lead them to ultimate success. This statement aimed to reassure listeners that engaging in conflict would result in America emerging triumphant.
The President aimed to educate and reassure the American people about the events and potential war, emphasizing their victory. Roosevelt’s impactful words aided the nation’s recovery from a significant tragedy, instilling the belief that the nation would stand firm and defeat any adversary.
