1941 US Congress
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.
