1941年12月7日,日军偷袭珍珠港,美军8艘战舰、3艘巡洋舰和3艘驱逐舰被击沉或重创,188架飞进被摧毁,2335军人死亡,68平民死亡,1178人受伤。 第二天,罗斯福总统在国会发表演,语调沉重: “昨天,1941年12月7日,一个必须永远记住的耻辱的日子。美利坚合众国受到了日本帝国海空军突然的蓄意的攻击。”(Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. ) 演讲最后一段,罗斯福语气坚定,“相信我们的武装部队,依靠我国人民的坚定决心,我们将取得必然的胜利,愿上帝帮助我们! 我要求国会宣布:自1941年12月7日星期日,日本发动无端的、卑鄙的进攻时起,美国和日本帝国之间已处于战争状态。” (With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire. )