PAGE 1 OF 2

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Your name

“Day of Infamy” Speech

UNITED STATES | 1941

On 7 December 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy, using 353 planes launched from six aircraft
carriers, carried out a surprise attack on the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet, based at
Pearl Harbor on the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. (Hawai‘i was then a U.S. territory, not a state.)
A total of 19 U.S. ships were damaged or destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178
were wounded.
The next day, 8 December 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation
before a joint session of Congress. He said that the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor would
“live in infamy.” Within an hour of this address, Congress passed a declaration of war against
Japan; only one member of Congress voted no. The United States entered World War II,
which would last until U.S. planes dropped the first, and so far only, atomic bombs used in
war on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was later judged to be a war crime. Of the American ships
sunk in the attack, the U.S.S. Arizona remains on the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Starting in
1942, tens of thousands of Japanese Americans — loyal citizens of the United States — were
sent to internment camps for the duration of the war. Today, the United States and Japan
are strong political and military allies and close trading and economic partners.

house of representatives chamber

United States capitol, Washington, D.C.
monday, 8 december 1941

1 Mr. Vice President,1 and Mr. Speaker,2 livered to our Secretary of State4 a formal
and Members of the Senate reply to a recent American message.5 And
NOTES
and House of Representatives: 20 while this reply stated that it seemed use- 1 Henry A. Wallace
less to continue the existing diplomatic ne-

Y
2 Sam Rayburn
esterday, December 7, 1941—a gotiations, it contained no threat or hint of 3 Kichisaburō Nomura
5 date which will live in infamy—the war or of armed attack. (野村 吉三郎)
4 Cordell Hull
United States of America was sud- It will be recorded that the distance of
5 Here Roosevelt is
denly and deliberately attacked by naval 25 Hawaii from Japan6 makes it obvious that referencing the Outline
and air forces of the Empire of Japan. the attack was deliberately planned many of Proposed Basis for
Agreement Between the
The United States was at peace with days or even weeks ago. During the inter- United States and Japan,
10 that Nation and, at the solicitation of Ja- vening time the Japanese Government has also known as the Hull
note after the secretary of
pan, was still in conversation with its Gov- deliberately sought to deceive the United state. It was a final attempt
ernment and its Emperor looking toward 30 States by false statements and expressions at peace between the two
nations and included several
the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. In- of hope for continued peace. conditions the U.S. was
deed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian asking Japan to meet. It was
delivered to Japan on 26
15 had commenced bombing in the American Islands has caused severe damage to Ameri- November 1941, just 11 days
Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador can naval and military forces. I regret to tell before the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
to the United States3 and his colleague de- 35 you that very many American lives have 6 Over 4,100 miles (6,600
kilometers)
Layout © 2016 Dustin Tyler Joyce. All rights reserved. Copies of this document may be made only by the original purchaser for use in a classroom or other
educational setting. This copyright notice should appear on all copies made. | dtjoyce.com
 been lost. In addition American ships have But always will our whole Nation re- Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
been reported torpedoed on the high seas member the character of the onslaught “Day of Infamy” Speech
PAGE 2 OF 2
between San Francisco and Honolulu. against us.
Yesterday the Japanese Government No matter how long it may take us to
40 also launched an attack against Malaya.7 65 overcome this premeditated invasion, the
Last night Japanese forces attacked American people in their righteous might
Hong Kong.8 will win through to absolute victory. I be-
Last night Japanese forces attacked lieve that I interpret the will of the Con-
Guam.9 gress and of the people when I assert that
45 Last night Japanese forces attacked the 70 we will not only defend ourselves to the ut-
Philippine Islands.10 termost but will make it very certain that
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake this form of treachery shall never again en-
Island.9 And this morning the Japanese at- danger us.
tacked Midway Island.9 Hostilities exist. There is no blinking
50 Japan has, therefore, undertaken a sur- 75 at the fact that our people, our territory,
prise offensive extending throughout the and our interests are in grave danger.
Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and to- With confidence in our armed forc-
day speak for themselves. The people of the es—with the unbounding determination
United States have already formed their of our people—we will gain the inevitable
55 opinions and well understand the implica- 80 triumph—so help us God.
tions to the very life and safety of our Na- I ask that the Congress declare12 that NOTES
tion. since the unprovoked and dastardly attack 7 Malaya was a British
As Commander in Chief11 of the Army by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, possession at the time. It
covered the bulk of what
and Navy I have directed that all measures a state of war has existed between the is today the portion of
60 be taken for our defense. 85 United States and the Japanese Empire. Malaysia on the Malay
Peninsula.
8 Hong Kong was a British
possession until 1999.
Declaration of War on Japan, 8 December 1941 9 These islands were and
still are U.S. possessions
in the Pacific. All were
1 JOINT RESOLUTION the locations of strategic
military outposts. The U.S.
Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial Government of Japan and the military still maintains a
Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same. large presence on Guam,
with a small presence on
Wake Island.
Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has committed unprovoked acts of war against the 10 The Philippines became
5 Government and the people of the United States of America: Therefore be it a U.S. possession in 1898
following the Spanish-
American War. It became
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress as- independent on 4 July 1946,
after World War II ended.
sembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Government of Ja- 11 Article II, Section 2, of the
pan which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the Constitution designates the
president as commander in
President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of chief of the United States
10 the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial Armed Forces.
Government of Japan; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources 12 Article I, Section 8, of the
Constitution gives Congress
of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States. the power to declare war.
Formal declarations have
been made by Congress in
Sam Rayburn only five wars, the last of
Speaker of the House of Representatives. which was World War II.
U.S. military engagement
in other wars and conflicts
Henry A. Wallace have been authorized by
other means.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.