In his speech, Roosevelt discussed the growing threat of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. The aggression demonstrated by the Germans included the takeover of countries in Europe. He emphasized Great Britain’s attempt to maintain a stronghold against Germany as the other countries fall to their invasion.

He highlighted that democracy around the world (specifically the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia) is being threatened. Roosevelt wanted to assure the American people that if the armed defense against the dictators failed, it would endanger the safety of the United States and its democracy. In order for happiness to continue for future generations, the United States had to act swiftly with the cooperation of its people.

He said “we oppose enforced isolation for ourselves or for any other part of the Americas”

It is being assailed in every part of the world

1) Freedom of speech; 2) Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way; 3) Freedom from want; 4) Freedom from fear

In President Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech, he began by detailing the growing crisis and threats occurring around the world. While the United States dealt with conflict with other nations throughout history, those nations did not show any threat of dominating the world or constituting a threat to the United States and its future (not even World War I was a major threat to the United States and its future).

The United States is now facing the tyrannical threat of hostile nations such as Nazi Germany. He emphasized Germany’s assault on the European continent and how its unilateral actions were a threat to America’s safety and democracy. As a result, America must consider abandoning isolationism in order to assist allies and deal with the tyranny abroad.

The four freedoms are the essential human freedoms shared by people around the world. They are (1) freedom of speech and expression, (2) freedom to worship, (3) freedom from want, and (4) freedom from fear. In order to ensure that this will be attainable in the world, America must unite, provide support for those rights, and create a better future guaranteeing those freedoms.