How did President Roosevelt respond to the attacks on Pearl Harbor?
- Rosie Jayde Uyola
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
Learning Objectives
I can identify how President Roosevelt used language and evidence in his speech to respond to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
I can define and apply key academic vocabulary related to historical crisis and war.
I can explain how Roosevelt’s speech justified a major shift in U.S. foreign policy.
Standards
NYS Social Studies Framework 11.7a
C3 Framework D2.His.4.9-12
Hess Depth of Knowledge Matrix Level 4: Analyze and evaluate a policy response using historical evidence and rhetorical purpose
Materials
Warm-Up Prompt
Vocabulary and Context Handout (fully written below)
Annotated Primary Source: Roosevelt’s Day of Infamy Speech (Excerpt)
Close Read Annotation Guide
Claim and Evidence Organizer
Exit Ticket
FFW (5 min; 10 sentences minimum): If the United States were attacked by another country today, what do you think the President should say to the nation? What words or tone would be effective?
Historical Context
On December 7, 1941, the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress and the American people. His speech persuaded Congress to declare war. Today, we will analyze how he used language and specific rhetorical choices to build urgency, anger, and unity.
Distribute the Vocabulary and Context Handout. Students read the five terms aloud Students fill in the final column using sentence frames or their own examples.
Instructions: Students complete the final column independently. Please use words “infamy” and “premeditated" in your sentences.
Vocabulary Key Terms from Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” Speech
Term | Definition (Student-Friendly) | Quote from the Speech | My Example Sentence |
Infamy | Being remembered for something extremely shameful or evil | “A date which will live in infamy” | _______________________ |
Deliberate | Done on purpose, not an accident | “Suddenly and deliberately attacked” | _______________________ |
Premeditated | Carefully planned ahead of time | “Premeditated invasion” | _______________________ |
Hostilities | Acts of violence between countries | “No formal warning of hostilities” | _______________________ |
Self-defense | The act of protecting oneself from attack | “We will defend ourselves to the uttermost” | _______________________ |
Close Read of Roosevelt’s Speech
Distribute the annotated primary source and Close Read annotation guide. Students read silently, then annotate the speech paragraph by paragraph.
Primary Source: Roosevelt’s Speech to Congress, December 8, 1941 (Excerpt)
“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.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
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.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”
Close Read Annotation Guide
Instructions:
Number each paragraph in the speech
Underline words and phrases that express Roosevelt’s emotion
Circle any of the five vocabulary words you see
In the margins, explain how Roosevelt uses language to build support for war
Star the sentence that you believe is most persuasive
Claim and Evidence Analysis
Students complete the Claim and Evidence Organizer to explain how Roosevelt built his argument.
Claim and Evidence Organizer
Claim Roosevelt Makes | Vocabulary Word Used | Quote from the Speech | What It Shows |
Japan’s attack was shameful and unforgettable | Infamy | “A date which will live in infamy” | He wants Americans to feel shocked and united |
The attack was not an accident | Deliberate | “Suddenly and deliberately attacked” | He wants Congress to see this as an act of war |
The attack was planned in advance | Premeditated | “Planned many days or even weeks ago” | He is proving the attack was calculated |
The U.S. must protect itself and respond | Self-defense | “We will defend ourselves to the uttermost” | He is justifying the need for military action |
Constructed Written Response (Exit Ticket)
Students complete the Exit Ticket by writing a short evidence-based paragraph in response to the following prompt.
FFW (5 minutes; 10 sentences): How did President Roosevelt use vocabulary and rhetorical choices to convince Congress to declare war? Use at least one of today’s vocabulary words and one direct quote from the speech.
Roosevelt chose his words with great care. He used precise language to stir emotion, present facts, and call for action. Tomorrow, we will study how American soldiers responded as they landed in Normandy and advanced toward Germany.