Excerpt from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fireside Chat (December 29, 1940)

Directions: Distribute the excerpt and have students highlight or underline key phrases that explain why Roosevelt believed the U.S. should support the Allies. Discuss the meaning of "arsenal of democracy" as a class.

"We must be the great arsenal of democracy. For us, this is an [emergency as serious as war itself]. We must apply ourselves to our task with the same resolution, the same sense of urgency, the same spirit of patriotism and sacrifice as we would show were we at war. The people of Europe who are defending themselves do not ask us to do their fighting. They ask us for the implements of war, the planes, the tanks, the guns, the freighters, which will enable them to fight for their liberty and our security."

Comprehension:
What does President Roosevelt mean by "the great arsenal of democracy"?
What are the "implements of war" mentioned in the excerpt?
Analysis:
Why does Roosevelt compare this time to an "emergency as serious as war itself"?
How does this speech justify supporting the Allies without officially joining the war?
Critical Thinking:
Do you think the U.S. had a responsibility to help other countries before being attacked directly? Why or why not?
How might people in the U.S. have reacted to this speech?

(Answer like an 8th grader)

1 answer

Comprehension:

What does President Roosevelt mean by "the great arsenal of democracy"? Roosevelt means that the United States should be the main supplier of weapons and equipment needed to support countries fighting against tyranny. He believes that by providing these tools, the U.S. is helping to protect democracy not just in Europe but also for itself.
What are the "implements of war" mentioned in the excerpt? The "implements of war" refer to the supplies and equipment used in warfare, such as planes, tanks, guns, and ships (freighters). These are essential for the countries fighting to defend their freedom.

Analysis:

Why does Roosevelt compare this time to an "emergency as serious as war itself"? Roosevelt compares it to a serious emergency because he believes that the threat to democracy and freedom around the world is so great that it feels like a war is happening. He wants people to understand that we need to act with urgency and seriousness, even if the U.S. is not officially involved in fighting.
How does this speech justify supporting the Allies without officially joining the war? The speech justifies supporting the Allies by framing it as a humanitarian effort to defend democracy rather than direct military involvement. Roosevelt emphasizes that the U.S. is providing support to help those who are fighting for their own freedom, which can be seen as a good and necessary action without officially entering the war.

Critical Thinking:

Do you think the U.S. had a responsibility to help other countries before being attacked directly? Why or why not? I think the U.S. had a responsibility to help because democracy and freedom are important values. If other countries are fighting against tyranny, it can affect the U.S. too. Helping them can prevent future threats to our own security, so it's better to support allies before they are completely overwhelmed.
How might people in the U.S. have reacted to this speech? People might have had mixed reactions. Some might have felt inspired and eager to support the Allies, seeing it as a patriotic duty. Others might have been worried about getting too involved in the war and wanted to stay neutral. Overall, it could have sparked conversations about the importance of supporting democracy and what it means for the U.S. to get involved.