U.S. DECLARES WAR ON JAPANESE AFTER ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 8, 1941, the Congress of the United States declared "a state of war exists between the United States and the Japanese Empire."
The decision came less than one hour after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to a joint session of Congress shortly after the Noon hour here in the Nation's Capital.
The vote in the Senate was unanimous 82-0 and nearly so in the House 388-1. The President signed the war declaration in his office at 4:10 p.m.
In his speech earlier, FDR said...
"The attack...on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost."*
The Commander-in-chief concluded...
"No matter how long it may take...the American people will win through to absolute victory."
*19 U.S. ships were damaged & 4 of 8 battleships were sunk. 353 Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor in two waves. 2403 people died, 68 of which were civilians. 129 Japanese soldiers were killed & 29 Japanese planes were lost.
SOURCES
"Pearl Harbor 80th anniversary facts: how many planes attacked, how many people died...," Latest News, AS, December 6, 2021, www.en.us.com/
"President Signs Declaration of War; 350 Casualties As Japs Blast Manila," by John C. Henry, December 8, 1941, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
