Introduction/Thesis
One significant document for the researcher to examine is the Annual Message to Congress delivered by Franklin Delano Roosevelt on January 6, 1941, as detailed in Samuel I. Rosenman’s collection “The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.” It is the so-called “Four Freedoms Speech,” with the first being freedom of speech and expression, the second one – freedom of worship, the third being freedom from want, and finally, the fourth, freedom from fear. It is no mere happenstance that this document has left a mark on American ideals for ages and continues to inform the country’s foreign policy even now. This paper will unpack what I understand as America’s historical events through an analysis of the document focusing on its arguments and language to conclude how FDR’s 1941 vision has influenced my perceptions about the USA’s historical milestones.
Explanation of the Document
There is one major speech that has gained immense prominence ever since. Franklin D. Roosevelt made the presidential address in his annual message to Congress on January 6, 1941. This speech was highly significant because it happened when the US could not ignore the impending World War II. At a time of growing uncertainty in the world, at a time when fascist regimes were posing a direct threat to democratic values all over the globe, the president of the USA, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, delivered an address to his Congress. It was indeed a crucial phase that required a unique solution.
In this address, Roosevelt eloquently outlined his vision for a post-war world order anchored in four fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from hunger, and freedom from fear. His argumentation was more than just national but urged every man to adopt these values regardless of nationality. Moreover, Roosevelt went beyond parochialism by pointing out that liberty was a universal cause that all countries should be ready to defend to protect their future well-being.
Roosevelt’s rhetoric presented these ideals as more than mere American principles but human rights universally shared across borders and in different cultures (S.Earnshaw, 2019, p.4). Through this action, he paved the way for a broader definition of freedom that embraced everyone, regardless of national borders. This concept has been applied in human rights and international relations discussions over the centuries.
Explication of the Document
Throughout the address, Ronald Reagan used emotional and persuasive speech to convey his views. He cleverly used the word “freedom,” which became the binding cord of his remarks. In this regard, Roosevelt connected American values such as freedom of speech, worship, property, and fear to argue that the US must lead towards building a moral world by liberating individuals from injustice.
Strategically connecting historical American values with modern-day world challenges, the president. In this way, he supported the cause of American involvement in the war and described what kind of new world order could be created following the war’s end. On his part, Roosevelt contended that protecting these freedoms was not merely in defense of aggression but was also a national obligation in line with this country’s founding ideals.
Moreover, Roosevelt’s statement was more than merely an appeal for war. It was also a roadmap of a planned future world after the wars. His dream was of a world encompassing democracy, tolerance, and social justice. Through language, the American president would incentivize even countries beyond the US to support such principles. Through this action, he was trying to rewrite the history of the USA and its place on a global stage.
Personal Reflection
I understood American history better thanks to this document, which revealed the relationship between national and global stories. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Speech emphasized American exceptionalism and the country’s responsibility to protect global imperatives beyond traditional nationalist perspectives. It questioned my conception of American exceptionalism and made me think about the past obligations of the state in the international community.
This address pointed out that rhetoric is a strong force for change in human history trajectories (Beer et al., 2021, p2).| This illustrated how a leader could be as much an embodiment of the zeitgeist as its creator. The speech delivered by Franklin D. Roosevelt was a beacon of hope in times of turbulence. It demonstrated how a visionary leader can express eternal values that transcend time and continue to speak to people even today.
Conclusion
To sum it up, FDR’s presidential annual message to Congress has reshaped my thinking about the world, and I realize that this interconnectedness goes beyond my expectations. While seeming plain in its historical perspective, the document is a timeless guide to states encountering crises. Roosevelt’s vision for a better world is a potent illustration of how intertwined the past, the present, and the future. The vision goes beyond the target population, representing the need for human rights worldwide, which is not constrained by national borders. It reveals an in-depth knowledge of the subtle linkages between countries and the everlasting principles they must adhere to in hard times. By doing this, Roosevelt’s message goes beyond its origins in time, giving sharp and accurate news about people interdependent on Earth
Reference
Beer, A., Barnes, T., & Horne, S. (2021). Place-based industrial strategy and economic trajectory: advancing agency-based approaches. Regional Studies, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2021.1947485
S Earnshaw. (2019). “Freedom Will Be Defended”: The Human Rights Regime of Truth and Standards of Sovereignty in US Security Discourse (pp. 2–409). https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/29936/1/Earnshaw_Sarah.pdf
Sasaki, I., Kotlar, J., Ravasi, D., & Vaara, E. (2019). Dealing with revered past: Historical identity statements and strategic change in Japanese family firms. Strategic Management Journal, 41(3), 1–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3065
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