Fdr date of infamy

Words: 501-600

Skills: Main / Central Idea Summary

Grades: 8th 9th 10th

Topics: History and Political Writings

Genres: Speech

Lexile Range: 1060L - 1290L

Lexile Measure: 1200L

CCSS: History/Social Studies and Reading: Informational Text


President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Date of Infamy

by Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to Congress after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 is perhaps his most famous speech. Student’s will read the speech and reply to questions about the language, the mood, and the main idea.

Reading Comprehension Passage

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Date of Infamy

by Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1941, World War II was raging in Europe, but the U.S. had not entered the war. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese aircraft and naval ships attacked the U.S. military at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Over 2,400 people were killed, and the U.S. lost a large number of ships and aircraft. The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed a Joint Session of Congress which was broadcast to the American people.







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.








Passage Only

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What does “infamy” mean  in the phrase, “ a date which will live in infamy”?

2. What did the Japanese ambassador do right after the attack?

3. How would you characterize President Roosevelt’s attitude toward the Japanese government based on this speech?

4. What do you think was the purpose of President’s Roosevelt’s speech?