Question

What was President Roosevelt’s main purpose in giving his address to Congress after the attack on Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

President Roosevelt was asking the US Congress to declare war on Japan.

Answer 2

The answer is option choice #2.

Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress on December 8, 1941, just one day after the Japanese attacked a US military base in Hawaii (known as Pearl Harbor). In his speech to Congress, FDR talks about the attack and how the US must retaliate and achieve victory against the Japanese. In order to do this, the United States must go to war. In order to officially go to war, Congress has to vote on it. This is why Roosevelt gives an impassioned speech to Congress, because he wants them to formally declare war against Japan.