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On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the members of the 77th Congress with his “Four Freedoms Speech.” At this time, the United Kingdom and its Allies were heavily embroiled in World War II, while the United States remained neutral. However, Roosevelt understood that the fate of his nation was inextricably tied to the fight against totalitarianism in Europe. The president’s speech served as a call to arms, both literal and figurative, urging the American people and the rest of the democratic world to unite behind the common cause of freedom. In the face of unprecedented threats to American security, Roosevelt articulated a vision for a future where essential freedoms were safeguarded, injustice was confronted, and cooperation prevailed.
This guide refers to the online transcript of the speech freely available at Voices of Democracy: The U.S. Oratory Project. Citations refer to paragraph numbers.
Roosevelt’s speech begins by acknowledging the gravity of the situation the country finds itself in, asserting that American security has never been so seriously jeopardized by external forces. He critiques an isolationist stance to world affairs, comparing it to placing the US behind “an ancient Chinese wall” while the world advanced (5).
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