Interpretation of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms Speech

This essay provides an interpretation of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech, delivered in 1941, eleven months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The essay begins by establishing the historical context, including the American sentiment against involvement in World War I and the subsequent Neutrality Act. It then analyzes Roosevelt's articulation of the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. The essay explores how Roosevelt used these freedoms to motivate Americans to support the war effort and protect democratic values against fascism and tyranny. The author's use of specific language and its impact on inspiring the American public to join World War II is also discussed. The essay highlights the speech's significance as a pivotal moment in American history.

Running head: INTERPRETATION OF FRANKLIN.D. ROOSEVELT’S FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH
Interpretation of Franklin.D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Speech
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1INTERPRETATION OF FRANKLIN.D.ROOOSEVELT’S FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was an American politician and statesman who also served
as the 32nd President of the United States of America. He is considered to be one of the most
important figures of American History as well as one of the most influential figures of history
in 20th century. The Four Freedoms speech of President Roosevelt were certain goals
formulated by him eleven months before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour.
The purpose of this essay is to make an interpretation of the four-freedoms
statement made by President Franklin. D. Roosevelt made in 1941.
The history of the four-freedoms of speech of President Roosevelt can be traced back
to the year 1941 when a large number of the American society felt that their country should
not have taken any part in World War I. As such, the Americans wanted their country to stop
interfering in the European political matters. With the passing of the Neutrality Act of 1935,
the U.S. rules and regulation rejected the sales of weapons to countries that were at war with
each other and also placed other kinds of restrictions.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the then President of the United States of America,
delivered the speech eleven months before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour and the
joining of the United States into the second World War.
As stated by McCulloch (84), in this statement, Roosevelt spoke about the basic
fundamental freedoms of four types that the people all over the world should enjoy for

2INTERPRETATION OF FRANKLIN.D.ROOOSEVELT’S FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH
themselves. These freedoms include the Freedom of speech, Freedom of worship, Freedom
from Want and Freedom from Fear.
Basically, these Four Freedoms were used by Roosevelt to motivate the Americans so
that America can resort to wartime from peacetime and join the Second World War for
protecting the four freedoms that Roosevelt stated in his declaration (Kimble, 51). The four
freedoms that he stated included that any person is free to use his speech, worship any God
that her/she obeyed without any restrictions, to change the economic problems that the
Government is facing in the country as well as to be free from any kind of fear by the person
himself/herself.
As stated by Kimble (50), through the declaration made by Roosevelt, he states that
America needs to participate in the war not only to protect the democracy of the country itself
but also help democratic countries from falling prey to Nazism, fascism and tyranny that was
becoming prevalent in Europe itself. He states that America will be influenced by other
countries in spite of being sovereign and enemies of the country might attack the country any
day without waiting for America to make the first move.
Roosevelt uses certain words like “stupid”, “immature”, “spies” in a denotative
manner so that the countrymen would be more inspired to join the war against tyranny and
fascism in Europe. These words while used in an insulting manner to the countrymen, urge
them to be more observant and cooperative with the soldiers of the country as they prepare to
participate in the World War II against Germany, Italy and Japan (McCulloch,87).

3INTERPRETATION OF FRANKLIN.D.ROOOSEVELT’S FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH
Franklin.D. Roosevelt was indeed was one of the most influencing figures of world
history in the 20th Century. The Four Freedoms speech inspired many Americans and forms
one of the main reasons why America decided to join the war against Germany in World War
II. Indeed, the Four Freedoms Speech forms one of the most important speeches given by
Roosevelt in his career.

4INTERPRETATION OF FRANKLIN.D.ROOOSEVELT’S FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH
Reference List
Kimble, James J. "The Illustrated Four Freedoms: FDR, Rockwell, and the Margins of the
Rhetorical Presidency." Presidential Studies Quarterly 45.1 (2015): 46-69.
McCulloch, Tony. "Franklin D. Roosevelt." US Foreign Policy and Democracy Promotion.
Routledge, 2013. 85-101.