Rhetorical Analysis of Roosevelts Address to Congress - Essay Example

“Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves” the speaker uses a lot of repetition employing the artistic style of logic, giving supportive evidence to bring out the facts that indeed japan is offensive due to the many attacks and congress should declare war with them (Gross, et al, 88).

The other rhetorical technique employed by the speaker is the use of pathos when he says “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” the speaker tries to bring out the damage and loss of lives caused by the attack, therefore, tries to invoke emotions of sympathy and anger for the lives lost and anger about the attack hence the reason why congress should act (Gross, et al, 90).

The speaker used evidence-based arguments that he illustrated with a lot of emotions to bring out the urgency of the matter to congress and the American people. The use of artistic techniques such as logos pathos and ethos brought out the speaker's character through the peaceful negotiations, he gave out evidence and reasons and calculated emotional invocation that angered the American people hence persuading congress to pass a unanimous vote to declare war on Japan, thus achieving his objective (Gross, et al, 98).