Addressing national anxiety about global conflict
Franklin D. Roosevelt's rhetoric in his Four Freedoms speech reflects the historical context of 1941 by addressing national anxiety about global conflict. In this period leading up to and during World War II, the United States was grappling with the realities of an expanding war in Europe and Asia. Roosevelt aimed to reassure the American public and articulate a vision for a world grounded in fundamental freedoms, even as the country faced pressures to remain isolationist while supporting allies. The speech sought to rally support for interventionist policies by highlighting the threats posed by totalitarian regimes, thereby acknowledging the need for the U.S. to take a proactive role in global affairs.
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