Franklin D. Roosevelt: Keeping America Out Of The European War

a. Wilson realized the economic advantages of remaining a neutral country, and understood that the United States’ abundance in industry and its large domestic consumer market meant that the national economy was not under any immediate threat. Furthermore, as the world’s leading manufacturer and economic power, the United States became the primary supplier of the Allied war effort. As a result trade with the Allied nations fueled America’s industrial, services, and agricultural sectors, as American exports of steel, grain, clothes, food, money, weapons, etc, and brought about the biggest economic boom in U.S. history. American banks lent billions of dollars to the Allied coalition. The United States, however, did not trade strictly with the Allied nations, and for a time exploited its status as a neutral country to conduct trade with Germany, that was until Britain harassed American goods back to English ports. In spite of this trade with the Allied nations continued, and the national economy flourished from the sale of non-contraband goods. Wilson therefore had little reason to claim any greater a stake in the European war than strictly business. Moreover, the United States, as a result of the Second Industrial Revolution, enjoyed a self-sufficient economy founded on the nation’s vast array of industry and a steady supply of valuable resources like oil and steel. America’s industries were perfectly suited to the nation’s

Convincing an audience of 133.4 million is a daunting task, especially when they must be convinced to join a war less than thirty years after World War I. On January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the State of the Union Address that began his third term as president. This speech, broadcast across the United States on the radio, sparked the idea to join World War II even before Pearl Harbor was attacked. In this speech, he fully supports the English against the attack of the dictators trying to extinguish democracy across the world. He proposes the four freedoms that America is invested in protecting around the world: freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship God in any way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. In his speech, “The Four Freedoms,” Franklin Delano Roosevelt inspires nationalism and creates fear in his audience to convince them to join the war ravaging through Europe through many forms of metaphor and repetition.

On January 6, 1941 President Roosevelt delivered his State of the Union Address before congress. He spoke eloquently of a future world founded on the essential human freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. (Foner 2014pg842). He used this speech as a rally cry to enter World War 2. (Foner 2014, 757) These four freedoms were meant to establish basic rights for all people in the United states and still today we hold true to these freedoms. (Foner 2014 pg842) Freedom of speech came to coincide with freedom and expression which would be the best defense against corruption of democracy. (Remembering the Four Freedoms 2016). Freedom of worship or religion would be our shield against the forces of bigotry, intolerance, and fanaticism, Freedom from want, a commitment to erasing hunger, poverty, and pestilence from the earth, brought hope for citizens as they fought the Great depression and Finally, freedom from fear, a freedom dependent on collective security, a concept carried forward with our leadership in the United Nations.(Remembering the Four Freedoms 2016) As America battled the great depression, Roosevelt was confident that the war would end the depression and cause the United States to thrive once again. (Foner2014, 843) Roosevelt declared on a radio address in 1942 that the “rights of men of every creed and every race, wherever they live” implying that the four freedoms made so prominent in this time era should be a

President Woodrow Wilson had secured the political clout to establish foreign policy after World War I. However, the Europeans, especially the two major powers in Europe, England and France had the right to be circumspect of several aspects of Wilson’s plan. The German Delegation utilized President Wilson’s analogy that, “no single fact caused the war, but that in last analysis the whole European system is in a deeper sense responsible for the war…” (Comments of the German Delegation, 1919). European leaders could have taken offense to Wilson’s plan. President Wilson’s represented a nation that was protected by thousands of miles of oceans, and during the war the United States suffered no loss of infrastructure and economically their markets made money during the war. However, that was not the case for the European political leaders. They truly had an ax to grind against Germany. France with closer proximity to Germany than England elected to be protective and leery of Germany’s intentions after the war. Germany on the other hand was distraught over the terms laid before them by the Europeans at the Paris Peace Conference. The Germans believed they were being singled out, and that through the attrition of their sovereign territory they were losing vast economic resources and their ability to establish self-determination and self-preservation.

However, Roosevelt’s support and vitality to the nation in the time of peril won him a third term in 1940, despite criticism by isolationists and the risky move to initiate the first peacetime draft in United States history. After receiving a very important letter from Winston Churchill concerning American aid and dreaming of an ingenious solution, Roosevelt called for America to become the “arsenal for democracy” (Goodwin 195), and emphasized the lend-lease program as an alternative to war. At the end of 1941, Congress was painfully slow to set up defense against the Axis, but FDR insightfully waited for the right moment. On December 7, the Japanese launched a massive surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and Roosevelt did exactly what the people wanted―he declared war on the Axis powers and ramped up war production. Through the progression of the war, Roosevelt was on good terms with Stalin, however he became fantastic friends with Churchill. Occasionally, Franklin took business trips around the country to the various auto manufacturers that had been converted to production lines for the war effort. He knew his visits boosted productivity as well as morale, so he enjoyed them, especially when workers shouted his name with glee. Late in 1942, civilian support for the war dropped with a decrease in morale. Franklin knew just the right move, and launched an invasion of North Africa that

The 1930s were a difficult time for most Americans. Faced with colossal economic hardships—unprecedented in American history—many Americans turned inward to focus on the worsening situation at home. The United States became increasingly insensitive to the obliteration of fellow democracies at the hands of brutal fascist leaders like Hitler and Mussolini. The U.S. was determined to stay out of war at all costs—even if its allies were in trouble; Americans believed that they were immune from Europe’s problems as long as they refused to get involved. However, as the “free” countries fell, one by one, to the Nazi war machine, Americans began to realize the folly of their foolish optimism and clamored for increasing involvement in foreign

As such, British warships were permitted to make repairs in American ports and training facilities for British servicemen were constructed in the US. To ease Britain's shortage of war materials, Roosevelt pushed for the creation of the Lend-Lease program.This act empowered the president to "sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government [whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States] any defense article.In effect, it allowed Roosevelt to authorize the transfer of military materials to Britain with the understanding that they would ultimately be paid for or returned if they were not destroyed.

By December of 1941, the second World War had been raging across Europe for more than two years and the United States was already, but not officially, involved. Deteriorating conditions in Europe and continual advancement of Nazi victory across nations was certainly cause for global concern, though many Americans were still clinging to anti-war neutrality. However, America had already proved to be less than neutral, aiding Great Britain with weapons and the lend-lease act, clearly siding with the Allied powers. But official involvement without support of public opinion was rather tricky. So you could say that, for many European nations, this tragedy might have been cause for celebration, as it was bringing the battle right to America’s back doorstep, and could no longer be ignored. With an overwhelming public majority opposed to involvement in European conflict, it should have come as no surprise that Roosevelt would use this as an opportunity to rally Americans in a war against Japan, and ultimately Germany and the other Axis powers.

“British Prime Minister Winston Churchill later referred to the initiative as one of the most honorable acts one nation had ever done for another.”(Office of the Historian). Winston Churchill said that President Roosevelt was being an honorable man and not being shameful and greedy. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson was another supporter of the Lend-Lease Act. In support of the Lend Lease Act he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that we are preparing ourselves. By doing this during the debate, congress finally passed the Lend-Lease Act. This indeed helped Great Britain. Both men who supported the Lend-Lease Act thought that President Roosevelt was being sharp-witted on his decision with this Act, but not everyone agreed on the Act of President

In both speeches, FDR speaks often about how peace and freedom are threatened. During “The Four Freedoms” FDR states the problem, the plan and what he hopes to achieve. He begins to address how American security is being threatened by other nations seeking world domination. He continues by emphasizing how to understand the danger democracy is facing, we must be realists. The safety of America is threatened by the events unfolding outside of the country and that production for armaments must be increased . If we are not physically involved in the war, we will need to produce billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to provide a sufficient arsenal to our allies. This would not only benefit them, but the defense of the US as well. He makes specific note that this is not a declaration of war, but a pledge to defend freedom and democracy. After stating the problem and the plan, FDR then moves into the freedoms which we are defending. Freedom of speech and worship are already protected for Americans under the first amendment, but he states that it should be granted everywhere in the world. Freedom from want is the right to be fed, clothed and properly housed. Lastly,

Presidents after Franklin D. Roosevelt have viewed the Executive Branch as having supreme authority in foreign policy. George W. Bush justified the war on terror, Iraq, and Afghanistan that skirted congressional requirements by citing the Constitution. Bush believed that he was allowed to take these actions since he was “Commander in Chief” and had a duty to protect American. Bill Clinton used the same justification for his ordering of bombings in Afghanistan, and Sudan. I believe congress needs to lessen the power of the Executive branch on foreign policy. I firmly believe that President’s should be required to receive a declaration of war before they engage forces so America knows that congress has agreed too. The Supreme Court has weighed on the role of Legislative and Executive branch in foreign policy and sided on both sides.

The us Maine blows up and all over news papers "Maine split in two by an enemy's secret infernal machine" US start war with Spanish and declares war. Then in 1976 and investigation proved that it was an accident.The people wanted war but the president didnt. THen every one convinced him and war was declared on Spain. Roosevelt resigned and went to war with the "Rough Riders" They later changed to " weary Walkers "

When the Allies was winning the way in 1944, Roosevelt who was weary & ailing, won his reelection. He met with Churchill & Stalin in February in the Yalta Conference, so he can get Stalin to help the US in the war against Japan, after Germany’s surrender. (The Soviet leader did keep his promise, but did not honored his pledge to establish democratic governments in

During his speech Roosevelt insisted that people in all nations of the world shared Americans’ entitlement to four freedoms: the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom to worship God in his