Final answer:
President Roosevelt's speech aimed to persuade Congress to declare war on Japan after Pearl Harbor, using strong rhetorical language and a call to action to unify Congress and the American people behind this decision.
Step-by-step explanation:
Part A: Roosevelt's Primary Purpose for the Speech
One of President Roosevelt's primary purposes for delivering his speech to Congress was to ask Congress to declare war on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. This request came on December 8, 1941, a day after the infamous attack, which propelled the United States into World War II.
Part B: Roosevelt's Use of Rhetoric
In advancing his purpose, Roosevelt strategically employed rhetorical devices to persuade Congress and the American people of the necessity of war. He used strong language to emphasize the surprise and malicious nature of the attack, framing it as a 'date which will live in infamy.' This particular phrase and the solemn tone used throughout the speech, combined with the urgency in declaring the nation's victimhood and call to action, are key rhetorical choices Roosevelt made. Consequently, he ends the speech with a call to action, encouraging Congress to declare war on Japan, showcasing his effective rhetoric that galvanized the nation's support for entering World War II.