Essay About Franklin D. Roosevelt And United States

Rhetorical Analysis
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Franklin D. Roosevelts Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation declares that Japan is at war
with the United States. He shows that the United States must become also involved with the war
as a result of Japans attack on American territory and also exemplifies what is now being
threatened because of this hostility. Roosevelts purpose is to make clear America and her
interests have now been targeted by Japan in order to gain support from congress to defend the
nation from these hostilities and declare war against Japan. He is speaking to Congress with an
urgent tone to reflect the haste that is necessary when the countrys liberty is jeopardized.
Roosevelt makes it clear to congress that there was neutrality between the United States
and Japan. He utilizes cause and effect to point out that the attack on Pearl Harbor is the end of
harmony between Japan and America. Franklin D. Roosevelt states, “The United States was at
peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its
government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.” He
explains that the United states believed that it had peaceful terms with Japan, and even had plans
to create peace beyond their borders. His use of the word “was” shows that these terms of peace
between the two nations is in now the past. This breaking of an alliance between the two nations
gives a sense of betrayal to Congress,. This shows that Japan is no longer an ally and has now
become an enemy to the United States and that Congress and the nation need to defend
themselves against their enemies.
Franklin D. Roosevelt also shows how everything Americans hold dear are now in danger
of the Japanese threat. Roosevelt uses his countrys values as examples as to what is being
threatened. He explains, “Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our
territory, and our interests are in grave danger.” By using