Persuasive Speech Ethos In Pearl Harbor Speech

848 Words2 Pages

Franklin D. Roosevelt is informing the country of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He is trying to persuade the United States to back his reasoning to go the war. Roosevelt uses pathos, ethos, and logos and help persuade the American people. By using the emotion of his audience to feel angered towards the empire of Japan, he feels it will help persuade. Giving strong ethical points why going to war must happen. Also, using facts to give himself a sense of credibility. The speaker in the speech is Franklin D. Roosevelt. He is addressing the nation on the occasion that Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces. The audience in which he is addressing this occasion to is the American people. His purpose for addressing the nation was to persuade them that war must happen. In the subject of addressing the nation about the attacks on Pearl Harbor he uses a very direct and emotional tone. He knows that he will need to target the emotions of the American people to gain their support. Example one, “Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.” Roosevelt used pathos, here, to give America the feeling of unity, which America needed to win against Japan. Example two, “I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost.” Here he gets the American people angry and makes them seek revenge against the enemy. By using emotion, he gains mass interest because most listeners will be fueled by what they are

Open Document