Answer:
"The Date of Infamy" refers to the surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. The central idea of the text is the impact of this event on American society and the country's subsequent involvement in World War II. The author, Carl Sandburg, describes how the attack led to a dramatic shift in attitudes towards the war, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt declaring war on Japan the following day. Sandburg highlights the shock and horror felt by American citizens in response to the attack, as well as the mobilization of troops and resources for the war effort. He also notes the discrimination and internment of Japanese Americans that followed, revealing the complex and often troubling consequences of this pivotal moment in American history.