By Paul M. Sparrow, Director,FDR Library.
There is only one speech in American history that inspired a multitude of books and films, the establishment of its own park, a series of paintings by a world famous artist, a prestigious international award and a United Nation’s resolution on Human Rights.
That speech is Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union Address, commonly known as the “Four Freedoms” speech. In it he articulated a powerful vision for a world in which all people had freedom of speech and of religion, and freedom from want and fear. It was delivered on January 6, 1941 and it helped change the world. The words of the speech are enshrined in marble at Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island in New York, are visualized in the paintings of Norman Rockwell, inspired the international Four Freedoms Award and are the foundation for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948.
On the 50th anniversary of the speech in 1991 a ceremony was held in the U.S. Capitol featuring a remarkable bi-partisan group of leaders including Sen. Bob Dole, Rep. Richard Gephardt, Anne Roosevelt and President George H.W. Bush. President Bush said this about FDR’s Four Freedoms:
“Two hundred years ago, perhaps our greatest political philosopher, Thomas Jefferson, defined our nation’s identity when he wrote “All men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Fifty years ago, our greatest American political pragmatist, Roosevelt, refined that thought in his Four Freedoms when he brilliantly enunciated our 20th century vision of our founding fathers’ commitment to individual liberty.”
Video – 50th Anniversary of FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech
To honor the 75th anniversary of this historic presidential address, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum joined forces with the National Archives Motion Picture Preservation Labs to create new enhanced versions of the speech in HD and Ultra-HD (4K) file formats. These new versions were transferred directly from the original 35mm film stock. Audio from the original disk recordings were then synced with the new video files to create an entirely new resource. The new HD video is now available to the public here, and the 4K video is available upon special request from the Library.
(Copyright Sherman Grinberg Film Library – http://www.shermangrinberg.com/)
It is important to fully understand the historic context of this speech. On November 5th, 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president for an unprecedented third term. It was a dark time as the world faced unprecedented danger, instability, and war. Much of Europe had fallen to the Nazis and Great Britain was barely holding its own. The Japanese Empire brutally occupied much of China and East Asia. A great number of Americans remained committed to isolationism and the belief that the United States should stay out of the war. President Roosevelt understood Britain’sdesperate need for American support and attempted to convince the American people to come to the aid of their closest ally.
In his address on January 6, 1941, Franklin Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people deserved.
As America entered the war these “four freedoms” – the freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear – symbolized America’s war aims and gave hope in the following years to a war-wearied people because they knew they were fighting for freedom.
The ideas enunciated in Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms were the foundational principles that evolved into the Atlantic Charter declared by Winston Churchill and FDR in August 1941; the United Nations Declaration of January 1, 1942; President Roosevelt’s vision for an international organization that became the United Nations after his death; and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 through the work of Eleanor Roosevelt.
As tyrannical leaders once again resort to brutal oppression and terrorism to achieve their goals, as democracy and journalism are under attack from extremists across the globe, and as surveillance and technology threaten individual liberties and freedom of expression, FDRs bold vision for a world that embraces these four fundamental freedoms is as vital today as it was 75 years ago.
Special thanks to the New York Community Trust for their ongoing support of the Pare Lorentz Film Center.
FAQs
His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
Was the Four Freedoms speech successful? ›
While the Freedoms did become a forceful aspect of American thought on the war, they were never the exclusive justification for the war.
What are the original 4 freedoms? ›
The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way-- everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want . . . everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear . . .
What helped make the content of Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech timeless and relevant to future generations? ›
Explanation: Roosevelt's Four Freedoms speech had timeless and relevant content for future generations because of his focus on common themes, such as freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
What is the central idea of the 4 freedoms speech? ›
Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address, commonly known as the “Four Freedoms” speech. In it he articulated a powerful vision for a world in which all people had freedom of speech and of religion, and freedom from want and fear. It was delivered on January 6, 1941 and it helped change the world.
What are the 4 limits of freedom of speech? ›
The main such categories are incitement, defamation, fraud, obscenity, child p*rnography, fighting words, and threats.
What is the tone of the Four Freedoms speech? ›
Answer and Explanation:
The tone of the Four Freedoms speech could best be described as a combination of warning and chiding. Given as it was on January 6, 1941, he was facing an America that was still unwilling to go to war, though they had turned towards providing arms and armaments.
What rhetorical devices did Roosevelt use in his Four Freedoms speech? ›
He uses several rhetorical devices, including parallel structure and repetition, to emphasize the importance of protecting the four essential freedoms.
What is Roosevelt's main purpose in this speech? ›
In his speech, Roosevelt's main purpose was to boost morale after the Pearl Harbor attack. After this event, the American public was worried about the future, and nervous about the possibility of further attacks. Therefore, Roosevelt wanted to reassure Americans that their safety was the military's main concern.
Who is FDR trying to persuade in the Four freedom speech? ›
A great number of Americans remained committed to isolationism and the belief that the United States should continue to stay out of the war, but President Roosevelt understood Britain's need for American support and attempted to convince the American people of the gravity of the situation.
First Amendment: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. Second Amendment: the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Third Amendment: restricts housing soldiers in private homes. Fourth Amendment: protects against unreasonable search and seizure.
What was Norman Rockwell's technique? ›
From Camera to Canvas
First, he enlarged his initial rough sketch with a projector to begin a detailed charcoal drawing in which he refined his narrative and composition. Then, still using the projector, Rockwell introduced his photographs into his drawing.
Which emotion is Roosevelt most likely? ›
The emotion that Roosevelt is most likely trying to create in this passage from his Four Freedoms speech is the fear that the enemy is trying to take away our freedom. Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address, commonly known as the “Four Freedoms” speech.
What are the four freedoms articulated by President Roosevelt as essential human freedoms? ›
To that end, he described four essential human freedoms upon which he believed the post-war world should be founded. He stated these freedoms to be the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear.
What are the four freedoms Roosevelt promotes values for all people? ›
Roosevelt's premise was that our liberty rested on Four Freedoms: Freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship, freedom from fear, and freedom from want. He identified freedom of speech and freedom to worship as core civil and political rights, just as we do now.
What are the 4 types of freedom? ›
As America entered the war these "four freedoms" - the freedom of speech, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want, and the freedom from fear - symbolized America's war aims and gave hope in the following years to a war-wearied people because they knew they were fighting for freedom.
What are the 4th freedom rights? ›
Fourth Freedom of The Air - the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one State to another State to take on, in the territory of the first State, traffic destined for the home State of the carrier (also known as a Fourth Freedom Right).
What are the 4 important freedoms protected in the First Amendment? ›
The five freedoms it protects: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. Together, these five guaranteed freedoms make the people of the United States of America the freest in the world.
What are the fundamental freedoms 4? ›
Fundamental Freedoms
(a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and. (d) freedom of association.
