Summary Of Franklin Roosevelt's A Day In Infamy Speech

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected as the 32nd president of the United States in 1932, the third year of the worst economic depression in America's history. At the height of The Great Depression about 25% of America's workforce was unemployed, and the country was crying out for change. This is what he promised in the inaugural address he gave on March 3, 1933: change. He gave his speech to show the hearts and minds of the people of the USA that they will come back from this great hardship. Franklin Delano Roosevelt used a powerful yet sympathetic tone of voice, dramatic pauses for emphasis, and plan to change how the country operated, in his Inaugural Address to reassure the nation that they will come back from the Great Depression.

“Yesterday, December 7th, 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” (1). These are the words Franklin Delano Roosevelt chose to begin his Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. FDR’s speech was a call to arms, and in his speech he expressed outrage towards Japan and confidence in inevitable triumph. The speech was a request to declare war against Japan and to bring the United States into World War II. FDR’s speech was successful in bringing the United States into World War II because FDR presented facts explaining why war needed to be declared and used righteous indignation

FDR has molded his whole speech so it mostly aims for an emotional (pathos) response from Congress and the American people. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt incorporated pathos into his speech when he said, “Our people, our territory, and our interests”. Using such phrasings gave the audience a feeling of togetherness with both the government and themselves. That kind of outlook was necessary so that FDR could bring in troops and also rally up patriotism from the citizens so that hope would not be lost. It

“Yesterday, December 7th, 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 was spoken by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his Address to the Nation on December 8th, 1941. During President Roosevelt’s speech, he used logical appeals (logos), emotional appeals (pathos), and credibility appeals (ethos). Even though President Roosevelt was sitting in a wheel chair during his speech, it was still considered formal because he was the President. The reason this speech took place was to inform the nation about what Japan had done to our country and also to declare war.

The second term for President Franklin D. Roosevelt is very important for various reasons. One of them is that historically it was the first inauguration to be celebrated in January instead of March as previous presidential inaugurations. Secondary, this speech reminded people the New Deal intentions and accomplishments. Also, to underline the progress coming up and priorities in the second term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In times of war and conflict nations turn to their leaders to guide them and provide an example for their people. FDR is a well known historical figure who was a pillar of strength for the American people during the second world war. In his Day of Infamy speech, FDR tells the American people what they can do after their country has been attacked. In contrast, BH is a leader who has been forgotten by history, he fought for his people and was defeated. In his surrender speech he shows his people that their honor isn't lost because of defeat, These two addresses share their military context but differ in the purposes of the people giving them.

It is those emotions and feelings of pride and patriotism towards their country that President Roosevelt plays upon within the American public the most. FDR uses many tactics within his speech to make sure that feelings of patriotism and pride are created within the American public. As one of the tactics that the President uses to instill feelings of patriotism and pride is by boosting their pride by saying things that make them feel good about their country and themselves. Throughout the whole speech the president consistently throws in quotes like, “We have the men. The skill, they wealth, and above all, the will,”(440) and “I call upon our people with absolute confidence that our common cause will greatly succeed,”(441) to boost American morale. FDR uses quotes like this throughout his whole speech to make them feel proud to be Americans and make them feel like they could take on anyone in the world and win. Another one of those tactics that FDR uses throughout his speech that helped create those feelings was by taking certain quotes from the axis powers that were derogatory toward the US and turning them around for his benefit. The statement located in the fifth paragraph states that, “…I can

In his acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention on June 27, 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt mentioned many challenges and concerns facing the United States during that time period. In his speech the President used short-hand phrases, brief references, and pejorative naming to make his larger, political and ideological points. FDR used terms like ‘economic royalists’, along with phrases like ‘new despotism wrapped in the robes of legal sanctions’, to identify the large corporations, investors and employers, who according to him are trying to influence policies and control the government for their own personal benefits. The President also uses phrases like ‘Necessitous men are not free men’, to reiterate his concerns and to point out how the working people of America are being deprived from their rights by these very same privileged employers. FDR compares 1936 to 1776, referring to the American Revolution and its significance in putting the power back in the hands of the average Americans, and how it is necessary to check the power of the corporations in order to protect the interests of the American people and restore the power back in the hands of the people.

Patrick Henry’s speech is to persuade the audience to go to war with Great Britain. He does this flawlessly by using the following rhetorical strategies: imagery, repetition, and emotion including other rhetorical strategies, such as rhetorical

Because of President McKinley’s death, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was put into office. Then, on March 4, 1905, Roosevelt delivered his Inaugural Address to disclose his ideas and goals to the American people as their leader. The audience of this speech were Roosevelt’s fellow citizens. He told the people to treat other countries with compassion and friendship because they became such a great nation. With his use of repetition, allusions, and his tone, Roosevelt was able to emphasize his point in making the country a powerful nation to bring tranquility throughout the world.

Bush uses appeals throughout his formal speech to help advance the argument he proposes. While doing this Bush takes his listeners on a roller coaster of emotion, appealing to pathos and to logos, then to ethos and back to

Throughout his speech, Roosevelt uses themes of nationalism through his diction, repetition, and metaphor. The first example of this is in the first ten paragraphs where he compares the situation in America to their history. He makes the current situation seem very extreme and urgent which calls the citizens to act against this new threat. Throughout this, he addresses the audience as “We” clearly making them feel American. Roosevelt also used a metaphor about an eagle having its wings clipped. In this, America is represented by the eagle while the bird stealing its feathers is meant to portray the dictators in Europe. This creates nationalism because the eagle, normally the strongest bird and a common symbol of the United States, is being stolen from, and there was nothing done to stop it. He also uses forms of repetition to inspire the people to support the country. In the thirteenth paragraph, Roosevelt uses a polysyndeton by repeating the word “or” to emphasize the American ideals that peace with the Germans would not bring to the world. He does this because in 1941, most of continental Europe had fallen to the Germans and if Germany were to win this war, those countries were likely to never become democratic again. He uses the nationalism convince

Roosevelt also uses this main topic for the mood of his entire speech; detailing the hopelessness that these families feel during this crucial time. Another great rhetoric device that Roosevelt utilizes in his speech is that of religion. In the closing statement of his inaugural speech, Roosevelt asks that, “In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He protect each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come.”  His reference to God was added in an attempt to bring together the American people even in the greatest despair by using the topic most relatable for people, especially at this time. Roosevelt also declares that, “These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.” Not only has he successfully engineered his speech in a way that puts audience members in the same state of mind, but he also goes on to enlighten these very same people to further instill hope and pride. Not only is this an effective rhetoric in his speech,

Winston Churchill’s Their Finest Hour speech propelled Great Britain’s involvement in World War II. After the great defeat of the francophone countries by the Nazis, Winston’s words provided motivation and encouragement for the country to not give up. Churchill is commonly known as a great orator by his use of pathos in his speech. In this speech he makes plain that the war with France has ended, and now the battle for britain is about to begin. He appeals to the emotions of the audience. In this thought provoking statement, Churchill states “But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.” At the time of the speech, Britain was under attack by the germans using Blitzkrieg bombing, and Paris was defeated by Germans.

In Winston Churchill’s speech, ‘We Shall Fight On the Beaches’ he presents a powerful call to action directly to the British House of Commons in the year of 1940 on the forth of June. Winston uses the techniques of figurative language to capture his audience’s attention in a way they could understand the importance of his message, without disregarding his high level of intellect. In order for one to truly understand Churchill’s message one must understand the difficult task he was coined with prior to delivering this powerful message.