Historical Context: World War II

Historical Context

Directions: ● Analyze the political cartoon below by answering the ques tions that appear to the right of the cartoon. When you are done,

fill out the chart and analyze the image that follows . ● Source Information : “What a lucky thing we’ve got separate beds” May 15th, 1941 by Dr. Seuss

1. Who or what nation do you think the character on the left [who says: “What a lucky thing we’ve got separate beds”] is symbolic of? Why? 2. Who or what nations do you think the characters on the right are symbols of? Why? 3. What does the character on the left mean when he says: “What a lucky thing we’ve got separate beds!”? 4. How does this relate to or illustrate the conditions of World War II?

5. What do you think the cartoonist’s main message is?

Recall: In the table below, use the space in the right hand column to describe the causes of World War II listed on th e left.

Causes of WWII Description of the Cause

Treaty of Versailles

Failure of the

League of Nations

Appeasement

Rise of

Dictatorships

Hitler invades

Poland

Recall: Analyze the image below, and answer the three analysis questions that follow.

1. Which two nations practiced appeasement towards Germany and Hitler?

2. Who did the USSR originally ally with? Why did they switch alliances?

3. Which nation did Germany success fully invade and occupy in 1940?

Neutrality or Involvement?

Objective What arguments were made for and against American preparation

for war in 1940 - 1941?

Directions

Each of the following four primary sources either argue for NEUTRALITY or INVOLVEMENT in World War II. Closely read the excerpts and answer the questions below.

Document 1: Charles Lindbergh | Des Moines Speech | September 11, 1941

It is now two years since this latest European war began. From that day, until now, there has been an increasing effort to force the United States into the conflict. When this war started in Europe, it was clear that the American people were solidly opp osed to entering it. Why shouldn’t we be? We have problems of our own here at home - the economy, the poverty, the unemployment rates… . . . It is obvious and perfectly understandable that Great Britain wants the United States in the war on her side. England is now in a desperate position. Her population is not large enough and her armies are not strong enough to invade the continent of Europe and win the war she declared against Germany . . . If England can draw the United States into the war, she can shift to our shoulders a large portion of the responsibility for waging it and for paying its cost . . .costs we can’t afford, and a responsibility that shouldn’t and isn’t ours, for we are not responsible for Europe’s squabbles..... We are on the verge of war, but it is not yet too late to stay out, and we must. It is not too late to show that no amount of money, or propaganda, or patronage can force a free and independent people into war against its will. It is not yet too late to retrieve and to maintain the independent American destiny that our forefathers established in this new world. . . .

1. Was Charles Lindbergh advocating for neutrality or involvement ? Provide one reason that Lindbergh gives to support his position.

Document 2: Franklin Delano Roosevelt | Fires ide Chat | September 11th, 1941

The Navy Department of the United States has reported to me that on the morning of September fourth the United States Destroyer Greer, proceeding in full daylight toward Iceland... She was carrying American mail to Iceland. She was flying the American flag. Her identity as an American ship was unmistakable. She was then and there attacked by a submarine. Germany admits that it was a German submarine. The submarine deliberately fired a torpedo at the Greer, followed later by another torpedo attack. In spite of what Hitler's propaganda bureau has invented, I tell you the blunt fact that the German submarine fired first upon this American destroyer without warning, and with deliberate plans to sink her. The United States destroyer, when attacked, was proceeding on a legitimate mission...This was piracy -- piracy legally and morally. It was not the first nor the last act of piracy which the Nazi Government has committed... For attack has followed attack. Under Nazi control of the seas, no merchant ship of the United States or of any other American Republic would be free to carry on any peaceful commerce... The Atlantic Ocean which has been, and which should always be, a free and friendly highway for us wou ld then become a deadly menace to the commerce of the United States, to the coasts of the United States, and even to the inland cities of the United States. Further damage to our economy would pro -long this economic depression we are in... Unrestricted submarine warfare in 1941 constitutes a defiance -- an act of aggression...The Nazi danger to our Western world has long ceased to be a mere possibility. The danger is here now ...Normal practices of diplomacy...are of no possible use... We have sought no shooting war with Hitler. We do not seek it now. But neither do we want peace so much, that we are willing to pay for it by permitting him to attack our naval and merchant ships while they are on legitimate business… So while we do not seek it, it has landed at our feet, and we must accept that we are one day soon to be at war...But when you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not wait until he has struck before you crush him.

2. Was President Roosevelt advocating for neutrality or involvement ? Provide one reason that

President Roosevelt gives to support his position.

Document 3: Senator Burton Wheeler | Radio Address | December 31, 1940

...We sympathize with the oppressed and persecuted everywhere. We also realize that we have great problems at home, that one-third of our population is ill-fed, ill-housed and ill-clad, and we have been told repeatedly, upon the highes t authority, that unless and until this s ituation is corrected our democracy is in danger. I fully subscribe to this view.

Believing as I do, in this thes is , I cannot help but feel that we should settle our own problems before we undertake to settle the problems of As ia, Africa, Aus tralas ia, South America and Europe. As Americans , interes ted firs t in America, what is our present s take? Our s takes are our independence, our democracy and our trade and commerce. Every red-blooded American would fight to preserve them.

...J us t as I love the United States so do I dis like Hitler and all that he symbolizes . My sympathy for the British is both deep and genuine and is exceeded only by the depth and s incerity of my Americanism. I oppose ANY involvements in the war effort, because they lead us down that road with only one ending, total complete and futile war. Remember, if we lend or lease war materials today, we will lend or lease American boys tomorrow...forget not the cos t on a generation of men World War I had, a war in which we had no bus iness in the firs t place. The problems of Europe are not our own.

3. Was Senator Wheeler advocating for neutrality or involvement ? Provide one reason that

Senator Wheeler gives to support his pos ition.

Document 4: Franklin Delano Roosevelt | The State of the Union Address - Excerpts | J anuary 6th 1941

...I address you, the Members of the Seventy-seventh Congress , at a moment unprecedented in the his tory of the Union. I use the word “unprecedented,” because at no previous time has American security been as serious ly threatened from without as it is today. . . . Every realis t knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world. . . . The assailants are s till on the march, threatening other nations , great and small, including our great nation. In the future days , which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. We will have to fight for these freedoms agains t those such as Hitler, who seek to des troy them. The firs t is freedom of speech and express ion—everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want—which, trans lated into world terms, means economic unders tandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear—which, trans lated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a pos ition to commit an act of phys ical aggress ion agains t any neighbor—anywhere in the world. That is no vis ion of a dis tant millennium. It is a definite bas is for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithes is of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create. . . .if we are to protect our four freedoms, war will be inevitable.

4. Was Pres ident Roosevelt advocating for neutrality or involvement ? Provide one reason that

Pres ident Roosevelt gives to support his pos ition.

Analysis & Application

Task

Neutrality or Intervention: The Lend -Lease Act Debate

Directions: Using information from the documents above, please respond to the following task. Task: Read the prompt below. Us ing the sources provided, the documents above, and your knowledge of US his tory - respond to the prompt below:

Imagine it is February 1941. You are a representative for your s tate in the US Congress , and you will soon have to vote for or agains t the Lend-Lease Act [excerpt here], a law that would allow the pres ident and military leaders to authorize and execute the sale of, lending of, or leas ing of military weapons to nations involved in World War II. You have heard the arguments for neutrality and the arguments for involvement. You are hes itant to vote for the Lend-Lease Act because a vote for the act means the United States would be involved in World War II , and a vote agains t it means a desire to express a position of neutrality . Write a speech that you would deliver on the Congressional floor in support of the Lend -Lease Act (supporting involvement in WW2) or against the passage of the Lend-Lease Act (supporting neutrality).

● Explain what your argument is ● Explain what reasoning you used to build your argument

○ Support your argument with two of the primary sources above

● explain means “to make plain or unders tandable; to give reasons for or causes of; to show the

logical development or relationships of”

Four Freedoms

Objective What were the Four Freedoms? How could they be used to build an argument for US intervention in World War II?

Brain Dump: Answer the three pre-analysis questions below to help frame your exploration of the Four Freedoms and World War II.

1) What are some of the rights that the Bill of Rights guarantees to all Americans?

2) In your opinion, which right is the most i mportant granted to an American by the Bill of RIghts?

3) Which rights would you be willing to give up? Why would you be willing to give this right up?

Historical Context: Though tensions had been rising for some time, World War II officially began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. By January of 1941, Nazi Germany had invaded and conquered France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and most of Western Europe. Though the invasio n of Britain had failed, the damage done was heavy. Hitler’s goal of world domination was clear. It was also clear through his actions that he didn’t believe in the freedoms the United States was built on. President Roosevelt had begun preparing for war , which he saw as inevitable in the early 1940’s. In January of 1941, he delivered a historic state of the union address known as the Four Freedoms where he outlined his vision of a future world order. This speech is excerpted below.

Directions: Read the excerpt of the Four Freedoms below. Answer the analysis questions that follow on the next page. Note: words that are underlined are defined below the source.

I address you, the Members of the Seventy-seventh Congress, at a moment unprecedented in the history of the Union. I use the word “unprecedented,” because at no previous time has American security been as seriously threatened as it is today. . . . Every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world. . . . The assailants are still on the march, threatening other nations, great and small. Therefore, as your President, performing my constitutional duty to “give to the Congress information of the state of the Union,” I find it, unhappily, necessary to report that the future and the safety of our country and of our democracy are overwhelmingly involved in events far beyond our borders. . . . ...In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way —everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want —which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants —everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, mea ns a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor —anywhere in the world. That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb. ….A good society is able to face schemes of world domination and foreign revolutions alike without fear….The world order which we seek is the cooperation of free countries, working together in a friendly, civilized society…Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere.

Vocabulary: Unprecedented - never done before armaments - weapons antithesis - opposite Assailed - attack millennium - 1,000 years tyranny - cruel Assailants - person who attacks attainable - able to be achieved

supremacy - condition of being superior in power

Analysis Questions:

1) Why is this moment unprecedented according to President Roosevelt?

2) Which way of life is being threatened according to President Roosevelt?

3) What are the four freedoms? Explain them in your own words in the space below:

4) How do FDR's four freedoms compare with the liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights?

5) The first two freedoms are “freedoms of…”, while the second two are “freedoms from…” what is the difference between “freedom of” and “freedom from”?

6) How could the Four Freedoms have been used to build an argument for US involvement in World War II, when in January 1941 many Americans still advocated for isolationism?

7) When many African Americans heard President Roosevelt’s speech, they felt outraged. In response to President Roosevelt’s speech, Historian Charles Wesley published an essay titled The Negro has always wanted the four freedoms. In this essay he writes: “The Negro wants democracy to begin at home. .. When it is said that we are fighting for freedom, the Negro asks, “Whose freedom?” Is it the freedom of a peace to exploit, exclude, debase, and restrict colored peoples…”

Why do you think African Americans were often outraged after hearing Pres ident Roosevelt’s speech? Did the Four Freedoms apply to them at this time in American His tory? Why or why not?

Four Freedoms

Analysis Task

What were the Four Freedoms? How could they be used to build an argument for US intervention in World War II?

Directions: Using information from the documents above, please respond to the following task. Task: Read the prompt below. Us ing the sources provided, the documents above, and your knowledge of US his tory - respond to the prompt below:

During the years America was involved in World War II, the government gave advice to artis ts and illus trators on appropriate topics for pos ters des igned to evoke a pos itive response to the war effort. The intent of the government was to use pos ters to s timulate the sales of war bonds . Indeed, Pres ident Roosevelt announced a goal of rais ing one billion dollars a month from the sale of the war bonds . Hearing of this goal, Norman Rockwell, a famous American painter, went to Washington to meet with government representatives and offer his illus trations free of charge as his contribution to the war effort. Late in the day, after being shuffled from office to office and repeatedly turned down, Rockwell headed for home, with a s top in Philadelphia to meet with the art editor of the Saturday Evening Post. During their conversation, Rockwell mentioned his disappointing trip to Washington and Hibbs asked to see the sketches of the Four Freedoms. The decis ion was made on the spot to develop the sketches for the Post. In an unprecedented cooperative effort, the government and the Post collaborated on a national campaign for the war effort called the Four Freedoms War Bond Show, which became a focus for an enormous amount of patriotic enthus iasm among Americans . The paintings went on a tour of s ixteen American cities , were reproduced in large numbers of pos ters , were seen by an es timated 1.2 million people, and raised over 133 million dollars in war bonds. During this time, virtually everyone in the country had heard of Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms.1 Linked here are images of the illus trations Norman Rockwell created. Below each image are a set of optional analys is ques tions you can use to guide your analys is of the painting. Select TWO paintings to analyze and in two paragraphs explain the following:

1) How does the illus tration bring to life the specific freedom (from the Four Freedoms speech) it is related to?

1 From the Norman Rockwell Museum

2) How could this image be used to convince Americans that s till advocated for isolation in early 1941 (before the bombing of Pearl Harbor) that the US should intervene in World War II?

● explain means “to make plain or unders tandable; to give reasons for or causes of; to show the

logical development or relationships of”

Four Freedoms - Freedom of Speech

1. From this painting what do you know about the man who is s tanding?

2. Where is the viewer of this painting? How does this viewpoint influence how we feel about the man speaking?

3. Where is this group of people? 4. How did the artis t sugges t that the people around the s tanding man are lis tening to him? 5. Do these people respect each other’s opinions? How has the artis t sugges ted this? 6. How did the artis t make a humble citizen seem important? 7. How does the s tanding man feel about what his is saying?

Four Freedoms - Freedom of Religion

1. How does the artist use elements of the image to imply unity? Specifically focus on:

a. Color pallette b . Direction they are all facing c. Action they are all taking

2. How does the artis t use elements of the image to imply divers ity? Specifically focus on: a. Props b . Gender c. Age

3. Where is the viewer in this case? How does this invoke empathy or emotion?

Four Freedoms - Freedom from Want

1. How does the light colored window imply a heavenly setting? 2. What do you think the turkey symbolizes? Why do you think it is the main focal point of the

image? 3. Where is the viewer s itting in relation to the res t of this image? 4. Besides the older couple at the end of the table serving the turkey, what is everyone else in this

image doing? 5. Why do you think the artis t used Thanksgiving to symbolize “Freedom From Want”?

Four Freedoms - Freedom from Fear

1. What does the headline of the newspaper say? How does this contrast with what the parents are doing in this image?

2. In cities where air raids were happening during World War II (for example in London), residents had to keep their lights off so that bombers wouldn’t know where residential neighborhoods were. In this image there is light coming from the stairwell. How d oes this relate to the freedom from fear the image illustrates?

Primary Source Document Analysis Letter from Pearl Harbor

Directions: Read the primary source and analyze it by answering the analysis questions that follow.

Historical Context: On December 7, 1941, the Japanese empire launched an attack on a US Naval and Airforce base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Primary Source: Eyewitness Account of Pearl Harbor - Lt. Cdr. Paul E Spangler writes to his friends back home an eyewitness account of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lt. Cdr. Spangler was a surgeon in the US Army, stationed in Hawaii with his family (wife Clara and three children). Read the primary source on the left, and answer the corresponding analysis questions on the right.

Friends: ….We had a little disturbance out here a week ago Sunday and it was sumpin. I must hasten to tell you that we all survived it without a scratch but I expected to see my maker most any moment that Sunday morning. They are beginning to evacuate those who want to go but the family will stay here until ordered home. I was resting peacefully in bed when I noticed rather more “practice fire” than I had heard before and then I realized that it was strange to be practicing on Sunday morning. About that time Clara and the kids came home from Church and their curiosity was aroused Then I got the fatal word to report to the Hospital immediately. I still was not certain what was going on until I came off of the hill on my way to the Hospital. Then I saw the smoke from the several fires and saw the antiaircraft shells exploding. I opened her up then and with my Pearl Harbor plates on I had the right of way and I was out of there in nothing flat. I arrived just in the lull between waves of attacks about 30 minutes after the first shooting. There was one big Japanese bomber in the

1) Did the author expect to live through the attack? Cite evidence from the text to support your claim.

2) Did the attack on Pearl Harbor take the author by surprise?

a) How do you think the surprise nature of the attack impacted the ability of the US navy and air force to fight back immediately?

sky flying over Hickham Field and Fort Kamahamaha but no one seemed to be doing anything about it. One J apanese plane was down in flames at the Hospital and it had fired the Laboratory and one of the quarters which fortunately had been vacated because they were s tarting a big new dry dock. I met the Exec. at the door and he told me to go up and take charge of Surgery. I hurried up to Surgery and all ready the casualties were pouring in. I did the firs t operation on a casual in this war if that is anything. I spent the next 72 hours in four hour shifts at the operating table. During my firs t shift we were under almos t cons tant bombing and the enemy fire kept up at a cons tant rate. They didn’t actually hit the hospital but one explos ion was so close it blew out all the windows out of the room right next to the one I was operating in. I thought my time had come for sure. It was hell for a while. These poor devils brought in all shot up and burned. Many of them hopeless . We gave them plenty of morphine and sent them out to the Wards of the hospital to die. The others we patched up as best as we could. Some we opened up their bellies and sewed up tears in their bowels . I personally don’t want to see anymore like it. You have read the official accounts given by the Secretary of Navy. I note relief in the mainland that it was not as bad as feared. If the truth were known I don' t think they would be so optimis tic . Don’t quote me, but this is the real account: We have jus t three battleships that can fight now. The Arizona and West Virginia are shambles . The Oklahoma is belly up and I doubt she will ever be of further use, if so it would have to be at leas t a full year until that is poss ible. The California is s itting on the bottom but is s till upright and may be salvaged. The Nevada is aground just across from the Hospital and they hope to float her this week

3) Was the hospital where the author works attacked?

4) What happened to mos t of the injured Americans?

5) According to the author, how many battleships were left?

a) What do you think this means for the US Navy and their ability to launch a counterattack on the Japanese?

but it will be a year before she can be fighting again. The Utah is a total wreck but she was not used except for training anyway. I think they thought she was a carrier as she was tied up at the carriers berth and they certainly gave her plenty of damage. Four cruisers were badly damaged. Three des troyers gone. Aircraft los t are certainly over two hundred. The hangers at Hickam Field, the mess hall, pos t exchange are all shot to hell. Many Flying Fortresses and PBYs des troyed. If you think these dam J apanese didn’t do a thorough job, guess again. They certainly knew where they could hurt us most and they dropped their bombs and torpedos right there. They had all the information they needed to know, even to the exact location of most of the vital targets and as to our ships movements in and around Pearl Harbor. I can’t understand why they soft pedal things back in the mainland. I think people should know the truth. Then they would be inspired to pitch in. It is not going to be an easy job in my opinion. I only hope the country will now take off their coats and go to work. We have the ability and skills but it is going to mean many sacr ifices for all and a long hard road to victory. What we need is planes, carriers, and subs. Thousands of them. Things are pretty calm here now. Many reinforcements have come over in the shape of Bombers that can fly over but the fighters will have to be shipped over and they are short men now. The morale here is very good. We are under strict military law. Blackout every night. Food and gas rationed but adequate supply of all for the present. I get home every other night now but that is just the last few days. Schools are closed so the kids are with Clara all day long. No liquor or beer is sold but fortunately I have an adequate supply for New Years if I live that long…. We all send you our love and best wishes.

6) What does the quote in bold font tell you about the attack on Pearl Harbor?

7) According to the author, does the public know the real facts about the attack on Pearl Harbor?

a) Why might the government keep this information from them?

8) According to the author, what does the US need to succeed in the war?

9) Is the author optimistic about his own

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year. And Remember Pearl Harbor.

survival?

Pearl Harbor

Objective How did President Roosevelt respond to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor?

Brain Dump: The following three images are related to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Review images available below and use the attached observations and inferences chart to record your thoughts.

Original Source: Library of Congress Original Source: Library of Congress

Original Source: Library of Congress

Observations about the attack at Pearl Harbor Inferences about the attack at Pearl Harbor

What do you see? Record your observations in this column.

What do you think because of what you see? Record your inferences in this column.

Primary Source Document Analysis: President Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech - December 8, 1941 Directions: Read the excerpt of President Roosevelt’s speech available below (original source). Answer the analysis questions that follow.

Yesterday, December 7, 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 conve rsation 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 day s 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. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. Wit h confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded 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 seventh, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

Analysis Questions:

1) President Roosevelt describes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as “a day that will live in infamy….” Infamy means disgrace, dishonor, or great wickedness. What do you think were the various emotions of Americans in the first hours and days after th ey heard the news of the attack?

2) What do you think were the biggest concerns of American citizens after the attack at Pearl Harbor?

3) Why do you think President Roosevelt mentions that “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”?

a) How does this help him build an argument for war with Japan?

4) How does President Roosevelt attempt to inspire confidence in Americans during this difficult moment in American history?

5) Who was the Japanese empire allied with during World War II?

a) Predict: Which countries does this also mean the US will be at war with?

Primary Source Document Analysis: New York Times Article - December 9, 1941 Directions: Read the excerpt of the New York Times article (original source). Answer the analysis questions that follow.

U.S. DECLARES WAR, PACIFIC BATTLE WIDENS UNITY IN CONGRESS

Washington, Dec. 8.--The United States today formally declared war on Japan. Congress , with only one dissenting vote, approved the resolution in the record time of 33 minutes after Pres ident Roosevelt denounced J apanese aggress ion in ringing tones . He personally delivered his message to a joint sess ion of the Senate and House. At 4:10 P. M. he affixed his s ignature to the resolution. There was no debate like that between April 2, 1917, when Pres ident Wilson reques ted war agains t Germany, and April 6, when a declaration of war was approved by Congress . Pres ident Roosevelt spoke only 6 minutes and 30 seconds today compared with Woodrow Wilson's 29 minutes and 34 seconds. The vote today agains t J apan was 82 to 0 in the Senate and 388 to 1 in the House. The lone vote agains t the resolution was in the House that of Miss J eanette Rankin, Republican, of Montana. Her "No" was greeted with boos and hisses . In 1917 she voted agains t the resolution for war agains t Germany….

A Sudden and Deliberate Attack Pres ident Roosevelt' s brief and decis ive words were addressed to the assembled representatives of the bas ic organizations of American

democracy--the Senate, the House, the Cabinet and the Supreme Court. "America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of J apan," he said. "We will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God." Thunderous cheers greeted the Chief Executive and Commander in Chief throughout the address . This was particularly pronounced when he declared that Americans "will remember the character of the ons laught agains t us ," a day, he remarked, which will live in infamy. "This form of treachery shall never endanger us again," he declared amid cheers . "The American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory." Then, to the accompaniment of a great roar of cheering, he asked for war agains t J apan…. Mentioning one by one in s taccato phrases the J apanese attacks on the Philippines , American Midway, Wake and Guam Is lands , British Hong Kong and Malaya, he bluntly informed the people by radio and their representatives directly: "Hos tilities exis t. There is no blinking the fact that our people, our territory and our interes ts are in grave danger. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well unders tand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation."

Victory May Take Time, He Warns

It may take a long time, Mr. Roosevelt warned, "to overcome this premeditated invasion," but of the unbounding determination of the American people and confidence in our armed forces neither he nor they had any doubt. Then he said: "I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a st ate of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire." It was to a solemn Congress and to grim galleries that the President mentioned the casualties in Hawaii --officially estimated at 1,500 dead and 1,500 wounded. Mr. Roosevelt spoke concisely, clearly and to the point to an already convinced audience already stirred to belligerency by the wantonness of the Japanese attack. Extraordinary precautions were taken by the secret Service to guard the President during his short trip over th e indirect mile and a quarter route from the Executive Mansion to the Capitol and back to the White House.

Analysis Questions:

1) According to the article, how does FDR’s speech compare to President Wilson’s?

a) What does this suggest to you about the difference between the US involvement in World War II in comparison to US involvement in World War I?

2) What adjectives does the article use to describe Pres ident Roosevelt’s speech?

3) What adjectives does the article use to describe the mood or tone of the room during the speech?

4) Why do you think the article mentions: “Extraordinary precautions were taken by the secret Service to guard the President during his short trip over the indirect mile and a quarter route from the Executive Mansion to the Capitol and back to the White House” ? What might this communicate to the re aders?

Pearl Harbor

Analysis Task

How did President Roosevelt respond to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor?

Directions: Using information from the documents above, please respond to the following task. Task: Read the prompt below. Us ing the sources provided, the documents above, and your knowledge of US his tory - respond to the prompt below:

Imagine it is 1941 and you have both read the speech delivered by FDR, listened to the speech on the radio, and read the NY Times article reporting on the speech. As an American citizen living in the United States at the time - how do YOU feel about President Roosevelt’s speech? Write a short two paragraph letter to the editor of the NY Times describing your reaction to President Roosevelt’s speech.

● Do you think the President did enough to inspire confidence in the American people after the attack at Pearl Harbor? If so, why? If not, what do you think he should have done to inspire more confidence?

● What are you worried about now that the US is at war with Japan? What do you want to hear about from the President in his next message?

● describe means “to illustrate something in words or tell about it”