Why did Franklin d roosevelt call the attack on Pearl Harbor the date which will live infamy?

Answer 1

The term "day of infamy" was used in President Roosevelt's speech the day after the attack when he addressed the nation and declared war on Japan.

This term became associated with the Pearl Harbor attack. There is at least one book written about Pearl Harbor that takes this term as the title of the book.

Why FDR used that term can only be answered by him. Bascially, he was saying that No American will ever forget the day the Japanese attacked the USA and we won't let the Japanese forget it either.

Answer 2

At the time, Japanese delegates were in Washington, meeting with the US about the decline in US-Japanese relations. They were to have deciphered and translated a message from Japan that Japan would attack Pearl Harbor but they were late in getting the message translated and giving it to the US. By the time they arrived to deliver the message and warn America that there would be war, the attack on Pearl Harbor had already commenced! therefore, instead of America being forewarned and able to alert its forces in time, the attack came with no warning, thereby being declared a 'sneak attack'. Having had a sneak attack launched against us the President declared it was an infamous(underhanded) act.

Answer 3

President FDR referred to the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a date that will live in infamy due to the fact that December 7th, 1941 would go down in history, but because of something terrible.

Answer 4

America suffered very heavy casualties from the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Truman decalred war the next day on Japan.