Running head: PEARL HARBOR

Pearl Harbor
Addison Galloway
University of Kentucky

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Pearl Harbor

Introduction
I. Attention Getter: About three weeks ago, Americans celebrated Veterans Day, an official
holiday which honors men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Today,
December 7th, is another important day in American military history. Do you know what
happened seventy-four years ago? The U.S. was bombed at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, which
catapulted us into World War II.
II. Listener Relevance Link: As a country, we need to remember our history in order to avoid
some of the mistakes of the past and to honor those that sacrificed their lives so that we enjoy the
freedoms that we do today.
III. Statement of Credibility: Through my research and exploration of the topic, I have been able
to inform myself on the topic.
IV. Thesis Statement: The attack on Pearl Harbor is a significant event because it catapulted the
United States into World War II.
V. Purpose Statement: This presentation will inform you about the event that took place on
December 7, 1941 and how the resulting decisions changed the United States.
Transition: Before talking about the attack you must understand the events that led up to
it.
Body
I. According the Pearl Harbor article on history.com, the attack surprised the nation though the
government suspected one because of the economic sanctions and trade embargoes we placed on
the Japanese due to their attack on China.
A. The US intercepted a Japanese coded message detailing their strike.
i. From what could be deciphered, President Franklin Roosevelt and Secretary of
State, Cordell Hull, thought it would occur somewhere in Southeast Asia.
ii. The final part of the message was not decoded until the morning of December
7th indicating when the strike would take place according to the article World War II in Europe
on the History Place website.
B. When our government received the final information, they realized the time
corresponded with the time in Pearl Harbor.
i. They attempted to get word to military officials there but it would not go
through until several hours later.
ii. By this time, it was too late because the strike had already occurred.
Transition: Once the attack happened it set a series of events into action that would lead
the US into another World War.

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II. President Franklin Roosevelt in his said Pearl Harbor Speech: Day of Infamy said December
7th, 1941, is A date which will live in infamy.
A. Pearl Harbor, a rare attack on American soil, was bombarded in the early morning.
i. At 7:53 AM, the first group of planes attacked. The second group attacked at
8:55 and by an hour later it was all over.
ii. According to the article Attack at Pearl Harbor, 1941 on the Eye Witness to
History website, the bombing destroyed 188 planes and left 8 damaged or destroyed battleships
(every one of the battleships) of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
B. The bombing and torpedoes left numerous injured and dead sailors and soldiers.
i. In total, the US lost 2,403.
ii. The USS Arizona sank with 1,000 men aboard, which was the biggest loss of
lives.
Transition: The deaths that happened on December the 7th was just the start; however, it
was also when the US changed and became a world power after the war.
Conclusion: When looking at the events of December 7, 1941 and the resulting decisions, it
shows how a single event can change the destiny of a country.
I. Restatement of Thesis: The attack on Pearl Harbor catapulted the United States into World War
II and changed the nation forever.
II. Main Point Summary: This attack shocked the nation and as President Franklin Roosevelt said
December 7th is a date which will live infamy.
III. Clincher: We must remember that freedom is not given, but earned by the men and women
who serve our country.

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References

Attack at pearl harbor, 1941. (1997). EyeWitness to History. Retrieved from http://www.eye
witnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm
Pearl harbor. (2009). History.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/world-warii/pearl-harbor
Roosevelt, F. D. (n.d.). Pearl harbor speech: Day of infamy. Digital History. Retrieved from
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1082
World war ii in europe: Pearl harbor, hawaii, sunday, december 7, 1941. (1997). The History
Place. Retrieved from http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/pearl.htm