Who wrote:
This was the Inaugural Speech of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (President of the U.S.A. from 1933 to 1945); delivered March 4 1933
Audience:
It was presented primarily to the citizens of the United States.
But one paragraph is directed towards foreign governments (“…I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor…”). Two paragraphs are aimed at the Congress (“…in the event that the Congress shall fail…I shall ask the Congress for…Executive power to wage a war against the emergency…”).
Represent:
FDR's speech represented hope for the American people during the Great Depression. He is promising the country immediate relief from its suffering, a return to prosperity & good times, and reform of those institutions & practices which plunged the United States into the worst economic crisis in its history.
What is being said:
When Roosevelt was inaugurated in March 1933, the U.S. was at the climax of the worst depression in its history. The speech lays out clearly what the #1 goal of his administration will be (“Our greatest primary task is to put people to work.”). Roosevelt addresses many issues that face the country at this time. He focuses much of his speech on the Great Depression. He takes the financial community to task for encouraging a culture of greed during the 1920s. He blames the economic crisis on financiers and bankers. He declares this as the main reason for the economic collapse. He also discusses themes about the meaningless of materialism, unemployment, the greatness of the constitutional system, and the bright future America can look forward to if everyone pitches in to work hard for the common good.
How is it being said:
The speech is a rallying cry to the country to change its attitude from despair to optimism (“…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…”) and the tone is that of a can-do attitude (“This is no unsolvable problem is we face it wisely and courageously.”)
What proof:
Franklin proposed that employment gains "can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources.” He gives a listing in the same paragraph of many actions that can be taken to solve the nation’s problems, but they will only work if they are immediately implemented (“…can never be helped by merely talking about it. We must act. We must act quickly.”).
Historical Significance:
Through his speech, Franklin acknowledged the fears, tragedies, hopes, and dreams that lingered in the American people. Roosevelt says the people have made their wishes known for a:
much larger, activist Federal government (“…registered a mandate that they want direct, vigorous action.”), and
more powerful Chief Executive who will set the agenda for Congress and lead the nation (“They have asked for discipline and direction under leadership. They have made me the present instrument of their wishes.”).
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Erin,
ReplyDeleteYou did a nice job on this TA. It is really hard to appreciate the mood of the country must have been in 1932-1933. President Hoover was a nice gut but what he was doing the combat the Depression always seems to have been too little and too late. FDR's speech completely focuses on domestic issues except for one small passage that descgibes what I think turns into his "Good Neighbor Policy" I don't see any mention of international affairs. FDR's oratory soars and is at time quasi religous. He blames the Depression on the usual suspect: financiers and big money people who spin credit and make money off money {sounds familiar}. He does assert that he plans on agressively acting to fight the Depression and is definately fixing to be a very active president. I read your intro and noted that you are in OK. Interesting since that was kind of Ground Zero for a lot of the worst of times during the 1930's {see the Grapes of Wrath}.
I agreed with Holly when she mentioned that he only focused on domestic issues, instead of international. His explanation of the Good Neighbor Policy was very vague, and since international trade affects a nation's economy I wish he would have gone into more detail on that topic.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Adolf Hitler was elected Chanclellor of Germany only a few days before this speech and FDR is implying being a good neighbor to other countries in other words we will stay out of war with the other countries and not be belligerent. He says "world policy" in other words foreign policy today.
ReplyDeleteHere is his exact phrase in which he uses the word world twice.
"In the field of world policy I would dedicate this Nation to the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others—the neighbor who respects his obligations and respects the sanctity of his agreements in and with a world of neighbors."
It is interesting that at this time while many countries in the world were moving towards socialism (or more government controls in their economies) as a result of the world markets collapsing that the U.S. was still sticking to its ground roots of capitalism and free market economy, however what was starting to emerge was more government controls in the economy as well to prevent such financial mishaps from happening again. Unfortunately nearly a century later a very similar situation would happen agian. But back at that time the government was not set up to deal with major financial problems on such a vast scale and because of that many Americans suffered. FDR didn't want to throw the whole bathtub and water out together, but just improve on things to make it less hard on Americans during these economic downturns.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your TA, Erin, and I think that you placed a good deal of emphasis in narrating the main themes which were mentioned in his inaugural address.
ReplyDeleteIf I can add one other detail, I would like to remind not to forget that Roosevelt still remains as one of "the most" controversial U.S. presidents in American history. I say this by also adding that he was also a very skilled and tactful politician - I mean, how else would you explain him being unprecedentingly re-elected four consecutive terms!
So therefore, I believe that the good majority of his speech was really nothing more than mere "political saavy," and also the need to find public favor - by oathing to resolve these critical issues, in a rigorous attempt to restabilize the national economy, as well as, to revive the sentiments of the American people.
Just my two-cents...
I agree with you in regards to Frankin D. Roosevelt's "can-do" attitude - which was made quite apparent through this speech. He does all he can to encourage Americans to get back on their feet and start fresh. Most political addresses/speeches are somewhat "showy", so there are definitely some parts that are there to strike interest and gain favor. He uses typical language/word choices to relate to his audience while simultaneously asking for their resect. However, I do believe that he was doing his best to gain America's trust and get them to become proactive in restoring America. He states that "this Nation asks for action, and action now", which further shows his determination to put America back to work.
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ReplyDeleteFirst off, good job on your TA it was put together really well and hit all of the main points. In my opinion Roosevelt’s first inaugural address outlined in broad terms how he hoped to govern and reminded Americans that the nation’s “common difficulties” concerned “only material things.” In FDR’s inaugural speech he stated that fear was a major obstacle to the economy. For example, in his speech he says,” Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear itself.” I feel as though FDR hoped that all of his government spending and interventions would put those fears to rest, and He may have made individuals less fearful, but, frankly, he simply made the fears of investors even greater. Those fears certainly helped prolong the depression though in my opinion. Overall great job on your TA!
ReplyDeleteYou're TA was excellent. You did a very thorough and in-depth into each major points. You're the only person in terms of audience to put that he did addressed our neighbors when he said, " I would dedicate this nation to the policy of good neighbors.." I think this was one of the important factors inputted into his speech because although America was at suffering he didn't want forget about our neighbors abroad. Being forward and blunt about issues in America that weren't allowing us to prosper was a way that he gained the trust of Americans here. He definitely put Americans at ease after his speech.
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