Infamy Speech

On December 7, 1941 at 7:53 a.m., Japanese fighter planes attacked U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor. The attacks were not expected, and were a complete shock to Americans. The first attack that hit aimed at airfields and battle ships and the second targeted shipyard facilities. Three U.S. battleships that were prime targets of the attacks were not present in the shipyard. The attack killed 2,335 servicemen, 68 civilians, and over 1,000 people wounded.

On December 8, 1941, President Roosevelt gave a speech to Congress asking to declare war on the Japanese Empire. In my opinion, this speech was very well spoken and I believe that President Roosevelt made a very good decision on asking to declare war. In the revelation of the attacks on the United States, I believe war was the only option that our nation had.

For example, “It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.”, the president is stating that our nation was at peace and after being ambushed by the Japanese, retaliation was necessary

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” This extract from Roosevelt’s speech will always be remembered as one of the most infamous speeches given to our country.