Franklin D. Roosevelt Pearl Harbor Address to Nation: Rhetorical Analysis

After Japan’s unsanctioned and unforcean attack on pearl harbor, Franklin Roosevelt addressed a shocked and infuriated nation. His speech served two purposes. His primary purpose was to urge Congress to declare war on Japan. But he had a secondary purpose as well, which is why it was broadcast nationwide. He also sought to create a unified nation in the decision to go to war. Franklin Roosevelt used anaphora, repetition and call to action to achieve his goal of convincing Congress to go to war and rally the American people. Franklin D. Roosevelt opens his speech by addressing congress and explains what happened on December 7, the day before.

Then in paragraph five he uses Anaphora, starting each sentence with “last night Japan”. Using anaphora here causes a sense of aggression from Japan and creates a dark and almost fearful cloud in the minds of the listeners. Fear is a very good motivator and Roosevelt uses it to his advantage, for scared people look toward their leader for safety, and as a small child runs to there mother or father, America turned to their commander and chief. The President also uses Repetition to keep the thought of Japan's evil deeds and necessary action at the front of the listeners' minds.

In the second paragraph, Roosevelt continually staites the fact that America was at peace with Japan and that this was an unprovoked attack. This causes an effect of anger towards Japan, that they “took a cheap shot” and it is unexceptable. He forms this idea in all the listeners' heads that Japan is a raging monster, attacking anything and everything and no one is safe unless we do something to stop Japan. He is just building anger and rage in the hearts of the young American men, causing them to run to the nearest recruiting office. Lastly, he uses call to action throughout the whole speech, every words chosen to cause a desire to get back and the Japanese. The clearest call to action is subtle but evident, he states “The people of the United States have already formed there options and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation”.

First off He causes an identity to be formed by using the phrase “The people of the United States” and “our nation” by uniting the nation he creates a common emotion, cause a whole nation to be ready for war instead of certain groups. If everyone has a sense of unity, the Japanese didn't bomb, pearl harbor, or kill some American, they bombed each and every person's home, and they killed each and everyone's brother, and as such they would pay. He now had a nation willing to do anything to stop the Japanese and willing to follow their leader to Victory or Death. So in conclusion, President Franklin D. Roosevelt skillfully uses Anaphora to criminalize Japan, Relation to invoke fear in the hearts of America and cause them to see Japan as threat number one, and call to action to create a unified nation ready to attack Japan. This well-crafted speech convinced congress to declare war on Japan, but its real targeted listener was the people of America, for he knew that if they were to win this war than the American people had to really want this fight and decide for themselves that war was the only answer.