War Message of the President (Roosevelt) to the Congress, Dec. 11, 1941

"To the Congress of the United States:

On the morning of December 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 greater danger. Rapid and united effort by all 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 WHITE HOUSE, "December 11, 1941."

(Documents on American Foreign Relations, vol. IV, 1941 / 1942. p. 121. World Peace Foundation, 1942)

Joint Resolution Declaring that a State of War Exists Between the People of Germany and the People of the United States, Dec. 11, 1941

"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, etc., 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 United States and the resources 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."

(Documents on American Foreign Relations, vol. IV, 1941 / 1942. p. 122. World Peace Foundation, Princeton University Press, 1942)