“A Day That Will Live in Infamy”
M. Rennels and D. Saenz
April 9th lesson
Introduction
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, allowed the U.S. to become involved
in WW II with its full might and fury after more than twenty years of isolationist policies .
Thesis
Prior to the attack, Franklin D. Roosevelt (F. D. R.) had been hampered by a reluctant
congress and a war weary people to become involved in the war in Europe. Secretly,
Roosevelt had been sending weapons and supplies to Britain under the “Lend/Lease
Act” which allowed him to send American goods and services without becoming
involved in the war. Little did the public, let alone congress, know that America was
committed to defeating the Nazis in Europe long before the Japanese attacked.
Support/Preview topics
As FDR noted in his Fireside chat radio address, "I say that the delivery of needed
supplies to Britain is imperative. I say that this can be done; it must be done; and it will
be done..." - (F.D.Roosevelt, May 27, 1941).
Direct Quote
Less than six months later, The Japanese Imperial Navy, with more than 300 attack
planes and bombers, infuriated the previously reluctant American people, and they in
turn, demanded that the U.S. declare war on the Axis Powers.
Transition
April 10th Lesson
Body Paragraphs (#2 through 5 +)
As the Japanese Imperial Fleet steamed toward the Hawaiian Islands a week before the
attack, Tojo, the military commander in Japan, hoped to surprise an enemy and prevent
the U.S. from entering the war. His plans included…(begin your proofs)
Proof/ Support
“When reflecting upon it today, that the Pearl Harbor attack should have been a success
in achieving surprise seems a blessing from Heaven. It was clear that a great American
fleet had been concentrated in Pearl Harbor, and we supposed that the state of alert
would be very high,” (Hideki Tojo).
Direct Quote in essay (Minimum of 3)
Tojo’s plan was designed on five points for success over the American Navy…
Transition
Body - Proof/Support (Blue)
Quote (optional) (Black)
Transition (green)
Conclusion Paragraph
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Naval Marshal General Isoroku Yamamoto, worried,
(thesis restated)
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible
resolve,” (December 7, 1941). (Direct Quote)
As the Japanese feared, America, with its rich resources and mighty resolve, turned the
defeat in the Hawaiian Islands into a battle cry across the Pacific and waged a terrible
war of attrition against the Japanese forces. (Summary)
If Pearl Harbor was the catalyst which got America involved in the war, Hiroshima and
Nagasaki was the retribution for the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. (Point to ponder)
Intro - Thesis - red
Preview/support - Yellow
Quote (optional) Black
Transition (green)
Body - Proof/Support (Blue)
Quote (optional) (Black)
Transition (green)
Conclusion - Thesis (restated in Red)
Quote (optional) Black
Summary
Point to Ponder
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, allowed the U.S. to become
involved in WW II with its full might and fury after more than twenty years of isolationist
policies. Prior to the attack, Franklin D. Roosevelt (F. D. R.) had been hampered by a
reluctant congress and a war weary people to become involved in the war in
Europe. Secretly, Roosevelt had been sending weapons and supplies to Britain under
the “Lend/Lease Act” which allowed him to send American goods and services without
becoming involved in the war. Little did the public, let alone congress, know that
America was committed to defeating the Nazis in Europe long before the Japanese
attacked. As FDR noted in his Fireside chat radio address, "I say that the delivery of
needed supplies to Britain is imperative. I say that this can be done; it must be done;
and it will be done..." - (F.D.Roosevelt, May 27, 1941). Less than six months later, The
Japanese Imperial Navy, with more than 300 attack planes and bombers, infuriated the
previously reluctant American people, and they in turn, demanded that the U.S. declare
war on the Axis Powers.
As the Japanese Imperial Fleet steamed toward the Hawaiian Islands a week
before the attack, Tojo, the military commander in Japan, hoped to surprise an enemy
and prevent the U.S. from entering the war. His plans included…“When reflecting upon
it today, that the Pearl Harbor attack should have been a success in achieving surprise
seems a blessing from Heaven. It was clear that a great American fleet had been
concentrated in Pearl Harbor, and we supposed that the state of alert would be very
high,” (Hideki Tojo). Tojo’s plan was designed on five points for success over the
American Navy…