Question

Read the following passage from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation":
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.

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. . . .

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.

Explain what Roosevelt means when he says that December 7th, 1941, is "a date which will live in infamy." What central idea about the attack on Pearl Harbor does the description help convey, and how does it help convey it?

Answer 1

Since December 7th, 1941 is the day that the United States was deliberately attacked by the Japanese, I think Roosevelt means this is the day that will be remembered for one of the worst things that ever happened in the United States. The description about the attack on Pearl Harbor conveys that this is a hard time for the United States. The speech above tells how the United States trusted Japan and all of a sudden, this horrible attack. This speech makes the readers and listeners feel sorry and sorrowful as to being deceitfully played by Japan. "...The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan,...", expresses how "in the dark" the United States was and how naïve they could be to trust the Japanese.

Answer 2

@Shadow could you check this over? =) Thanks

Answer 3

@SmokeyBrown

Answer 4

@Allison

Answer 5

Looks good to me..Have any more to add? o:

Answer 6

I think thats all i can think of :/

Answer 7

I still think it's good (:

Answer 8

The United States didn't necessarily trust Japan. Once Japan declared their side in the war, the United States stopped trading with them.

Answer 9

so what should I say that they depended on Japan?

Answer 10

Well, the United States was remaining neutral in the war. They were sending supplies to Europe, but they choose not to engage due to wishing to remain impartial. They only entered the war because Japan attacked them. The reason why FDR labels it "a date which will live in infamy" is because Japan had been malicious and devious when it came to the diplomatic discussion that they were having with the United States. They had to have been planning that attack for weeks, whilst meanwhile having peace discussion.

Remember that infamy means "an evil or wicked act." Japan misled the United States in their diplomatic discussion, and attacked a country which had no ill will towards them.

Answer 11

Also, if anything, Japan depended on the United States. The reason why Japan wanted to be imperialistic, is because the mainland of Japan lacks natural resources. The islands throughout the Pacific had such resources, which is why they wanted to gain control of them. At the time, they had been reliant on imports, especially from countries like the United States (who stopped trading once the war began).

Answer 12

I think I understand now. Thank you for being so depth . I really do appreciate it @Shadow

Answer 13

so in-depth **

Answer 14

No problem