Actually we declared war on Japan, the next day, in FDR's words "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a day which shall live in infamy".
However, we did not declare war on Germany until after they and Italy had declared war on the US (11 Dec 1941) in support of their treaty with Japan (Tripartite Agreement signed on 27 September 1940) Stupidest thing Der Fuhrer ever did, well maybe next to attacking the Soviet Union, *before* he had finished off the Brits.
Interestingly, FDR did not ask for a Declaration of War against Germany and Italy, but rather stated: "I therefore request the Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States and Germany, and between the United States and Italy.
Congress went ahead and declared it anyway.
"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;"
Methinks someone else needs to find a Library as well.
You are correct, I ment to say we declared war on Japan and attacked Germany, and abandoned MacArthur on the Phillipines to fend for himself, which led to the infamous Bataan Death March, which my Brother In Law survived.
The Secretary of Defense at the time said blithly; "There is a time for men to die"
$crew the state department, and all their political generals.