LAD #34

FDR Declaration of War

FDR starts with the what might be his most famous quote "December 7th 1941, A date which will live in infamy".  Then he begins to explain the Japanese attack on Japan.  He says that the two countries were in peace and were talking to each other just an hour before the bombing.  The Japanese ambassador had just given a letter to the Secretary of state which among other things had no signs of war or attack.  He addresses that because of the distance between Hawaii and Japan the attack must have been planned for multiple days.  During the time the Japanese gave no signs of attack.  The attack caused serious damage to the Navy and Military in addition to killing many Americans. Not only had the Japanese attacked Hawaii but they attacked nations throughout the Pacific.  At this time FDR was thinking only of the security of the nation and to achieve that he would not stop until the US was victorious over Japan.  He made this decision while keeping in mind that the rest of the American government and people were for the most part in favor of these actions.  To conclude he formally adked Congress to declare war on Japan in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the threat to the American nation.