Task: Review the speeches and select one and analyze and identify rhetoric and persuasive language.
Who is giving the speech, where, when, audience, protesting pro/con, message.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt – Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation: A call for war
December 8th, 1941 at the Capitol, Washington, DC to Congress
Audio file of the speech available

FDR had answered, I feel, 5 out of the 6 standards for persuasive writing. The first standard, State the issue and the writer’s position, is completed in the first few sentences. In a nutshell, he informs the nation that “we were attacked by the Japanese” and, from context, we can grasp that FDR is saying to take action or face dire consequences otherwise.
In the middle of the speech, FDR gave his opinions and facts on why we need to attack Japan quickly. For example “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.” If they could do this in one quick attack, imagine what they would do if we allowed this heinous act. By mentioning the American lives that were killed, FDR tried to make the audience’s emotions and pride influence their decision to go to war.
Fortunately this speech was performed by FDR for if it was just printed, it would not have the same respectful tone and effective language. FDR had put emphasis on every important sentence and phrase. By reading the speech off a page, one would not receive the same message that FDR was able deliver.
Probably most vital to the persuasion aspect of the speech, FDR had concluded his speech by summing up his message. “I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.”
Just adding to the persuasion, FDR used powerful persuasive words and situations. For example, “inevitable triumph” and “so help us God.” By adding this to his speech, he tried to connect with the people (by using religion) and tried to make both congress and the American public feel that they were obviously going to win (inevitable triumph). With help from FDR’s great, persuasive speech, Congress had declared war against Japan and entered World War II.

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