Question

Explain what Roosevelt means when he says that December 7th, 1941, is "a date which will live in infamy." What central idea about the attack on Pearl Harbor does the description help convey, and how does it help convey it?

Answer 1

To begin the analysis of the quote “a date which will live in infamy” (1) by Roosevelt, let’s focus on the meaning of the word infamy. The term infamy derives from the term infamous, which is used to describe something that’s well known, or in other words famous, in a negative mannerism. When Roosevelt says “a date which will live in infamy” (1), he is saying that the day will be well known for the bad qualities or deeds that happened during it. When stating this quote, Roosevelt is referencing the Pearl Harbor attacks when “the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace” (3). This relates to the central idea of the passage of Japan being deceitful and ending the peace they proclaimed they wanted by attacking Pearl Harbor, thus causing the day to be remembered in a negative way.

Answer 2

If something is 'infamous',  it means that it is well known but not for good reasons, it is famous for being bad. When Roosevelt describes Pearl Harbor this way he is saying that people are going to remember the event forever, because of how terrible it was. This description helps convey the central idea that the date of Pearl Harbor will forever be important, and it does that by mentioning its definite path to infamy.