U.S. enters World War II, formally declaring war on Japan following Pearl Harbor attack 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Dec 8 1941)


Video: 'December 8, 1941 Congress declares War on Japan'

(Monday, December 8, 1941, 10:40 a.m. in Honolulu/4:10 p.m. in Washington/Tuesday, December 9, 1941, 6:10 a.m. in Tokyo; 26 hours after the Attack on Pearl Harbor began, part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II — The United States formally declared war on Japan today, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Congress, with only one dissenting vote, approved the resolution in the record time of 33 minutes after U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared December 7th, 1941, to be “a date which will live in infamy” during an address before a joint session of the Senate and House.

The declaration was quickly brought to a vote; it passed the Senate, and then passed the House at 1:10 p.m. EST The vote was 82–0 in the Senate and 388–1 in the House.

Roosevelt affixed his signature to the resolution at 4:10 p.m. EST.