Congressional Declaration of War
on Germany
December 11, 1941
The President's Message
To the Congress of the United States:
On the morning
of Dec. 11 the Government of Germany, pursuing its course of world
conquest, declared war against the United States. The long-known and the
long-expected has thus taken place. The forces endeavoring to enslave the
entire world now are moving toward this hemisphere. Never before has there
been a greater challenge to life, liberty and civilization. Delay invites
great danger. Rapid and united effort by all of the peoples of the world
who are determined to remain free will insure a world victory of the
forces of justice and of righteousness over the forces of savagery and of
barbarism. Italy also has declared war against the United States.
I therefore
request the Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States
and Germany, and between the United States and Italy.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The War Resolution
Declaring that a
state of war exists between the Government of Germany and the government
and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the
same.
Whereas the
Government of Germany has formally declared war against the government and
the people of the United States of America:
Therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, that the state of war between the United
States and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the
United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby
authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of
the government to carry on war against the Government of Germany; and to
bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of
the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States
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