What was the purpose of the speech? to propose a plan to establish a peaceful solution
between the US and Japan
to present advances in weapons technology
to request funding to repair and restore Pearl
Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the US naval base at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was subject to a surprise
attack. In less than two hours, the US Pacific
Fleet was devastated and more than 3,500
Americans were killed or wounded. The attack
led to the United States' entry into World War II.
Though the diplomatic relationship between the
United States and Japan had been strained, it
was not yet broken at the time of the attack.
On December 8, at 12:30 p. m., President Franklin
D. Roosevelt addressed a joint session of
Congress and, via radio, the nation.
✔ to request a declaration of war on Japan