This one is a little longer than usual but this is my rhetorical analysis that I wrote on the attack of Pearl Harbor. Hope you enjoy!
Is The United
States of America truly known for their strength and determination to stand by
our righteous beliefs? As Americans we have had many surprise attacks and each
time we come back stronger and more united as a country. The attack on Pearl
Harbor is no exception and is an infamous event that changed American history
during World War 2. This event was the turning point in America’s involvement
in the war. In Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
address to the nation after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he effectively
expresses America’s relationship with Japan pre and post attack with logic, ethics,
nationalism with emotion, logic with the repercussions that will occur after
this surprise ambush, and ethics.
Roosevelt
starts his speech off powerful and gives American citizens informative evidence
on the current situation. The first sentence of his speech states, “Yesterday,
December 7,1941- a date which will live in infamy- the United States was
suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of
Japan.” This was most definitely a turning point in American history. America
had limited involvement in WWII until this surprise attack. Roosevelt’s word
usage is important in this speech due to America’s fragile state. Preceding his
dominant introduction, he expands on the fact that America was at peace with
Japan prior to this horrific event. Roosevelt states that US was still “in
conversation with Japan’s government and its emperor looking toward the
maintenance of peace in public.” Obviously Japan wanted to blind side the
American nation, giving President Roosevelt the idea he didn’t need to worry
about Japan as a threat. Logically Roosevelt speaks to the citizens of America
in the beginning of his speech to inform America of their prior and post stance
with Japan.
President
Roosevelt express his emotions towards this surprise attack and how we as
Americans will respond. As stated before America was at peace with Japan and
had no idea that for months they were planning to destroy America’s base in
Hawaii. One hour after Japan began to attack Pearl Harbor, the Japanese
Ambassador delivered a formal reply to the Secretary of State stating, “it
seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained
no threat or hint of war or armed attack.” This message was deliberately sent
at this time so government leaders would have no idea that at that point Pearl
Harbor had been attacked. Roosevelt goes on to say “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.” This statement gives a sense
of pride for ones country, as well as the feeling of betrayal. The idea that
Japan planned out this attack and pretended to be at peace with America was
emotional for President Roosevelt and he conveyed that in his speech. This
attack was one of the first to show the United States that no matter the
governmental stance between nations, we always need to be ready to protect our
country.
Roosevelt
then alters his speech to explain the effects of this attack and convay a more
somber appeal. He does this by explaining the severe damage Pearl Harbor is
facing and how many American lives were lost in this tragic event. He also
states, “American ships have been torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco
and Honolulu.” Explaining more detail about the events that actually occurred
will then open the eyes of American citizens and give them an idea of the
United States involvement in World War II. Roosevelt started out the speech
strong and is now starting to add more emotion to evoke the people. He goes on
to explain that Japan has also “launched attacks against Malaya, Hong Kong,
Guam, Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and Midway Island.” He does this simply to show that America will
conquer Japan with the help of all the other countries that are also facing tragedies.
Uniting and having support is very important during wartime and it was curial
that Americans felt like they could win the war if they united. Roosevelt does
an excellent job of putting an opinion in the peoples minds and pursading them
to feel a sense of nationalism throughout his speech.
Next,
Roosevelt goes on to inform the country that opinions on the matter are already
forming and new notions will be occurring. He says, “The facts of yesterday
speak for themselves.” Before this speech was made, people were forming their
own opinions and Roosevelt only enhanced those emotions through his powerful
word usage and appeal to the nation. He continues on by appealing to emotion in
his statement, “people of the United States well understand the implications to
the very life and safety of our nation.” He uses this to emotion to express
concern and warn the people that this is only the beginning. This is America’s
ticket into World War II and unifying will only help in proceeding to victory.
As
commander of the Army and Navy, Roosevelt has the authority to declare
America’s involvement in the war and in order to ensure the safety of American
citizens he will undoubtedly do so. This is a time when America was venerable
and needed reassurance that nothing like this would happen again. Roosevelt
declares, “As commander in chief of the Army and navy, I have directed that all
measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the
onslaught against us.” It is crucial that as president, Roosevelt converts the
people and shows his leadership. He does exactly that in this speech and
appeals to them with emotion and logic. Stating that America will retaliate but
also expressing his remorse for the lives lost.
With his appeal, he is showing that no matter how hard another country
can try to undermine America, they will always come back fighting. Ensuring
American’s safety is something Roosevelt continually does throughout the speech
and continues to enhance patriotism.
Roosevelt’s
stance on defending his country is portrayed in the next part of his speech as
he engages more in-depth about retaliation and America’s next step. Roosevelt
speaks with supremacy when he says, “No matter how long it may take us to
overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous
might will win through absolute victory.” This statement is powerful and gives
hope to a nation that has just faced complete tragedy. He goes on to say that
America will defend them and “will make very certain that this form of
treachery shall never endanger us again.” Roosevelt reinforces the idea that,
yes-Pearl Harbor was a tragic event, but America will not rest until the
Japanese Empire is immobilized. Roosevelt also adds in that he has much
confidence in America’s armed forces and states that American “will gain the
inevitable triumph.” Roosevelt’s message is clear that America will fight back
stronger than ever before and with vengeance.
Throughout
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s post Pearl Harbor attack speech to the nation, he
expresses not only the facts of the event but also what the future holds for
America by relating different types of emotion. Roosevelt is consistent in this
speech by tying together logic, emotion, and ethics to convey his message. He
was able to thoroughly express his stance on the situation and bring hope to
American citizens. Not only did Roosevelt speak formally as the president, but
he let the people know that he will do whatever it takes to keep the nation
safe from something like this happening again.
-Obviously we went to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was so beautiful, but the walk across the bridge was freezing and windy. And I wore sandals so my feet were killing me haha so I'm dumb for that. After walking the bridge we walked to a small town called Salalito, right on the other side of the hill. That was for sure my favorite day just because we had so much fun taking pictures and sight seeing.
