U4

For this assignment, we will read the State of the Union address given by FDR on January 6, 1941, after he had won a third term as president (in the days before the 22nd Amendment limited presidents to two terms). By that time, the U.S. had worked through eight years of the New Deal, and WWII had been raging abroad since September of 1939. Americans were not yet directly involved in the conflict, as the Pearl Harbor attack would not strike Hawaii until December 7th. In the speech you are to read, FDR addresses Congress, discussing how and why the U.S. should develop its military and continue support for allies in the war, but he also introduced the idea of The Four Freedoms. Task Your assignment has two (2) parts to complete. Be sure to address both in your writing. Part 1: Write a response that reflects the presidents 1941 speech and explains, among other things, FDRs Four Freedoms. The primary document is linked here. Do not do outside research or use AI, but just read the speech itself and refer to our regular course readings for historical context. Include a minimum of two (2) mandatory direct quotes (full sentences but not block quotes) from the primary document, aside from the actual list of the four freedoms. Choose two quotes to help explain FDRs thoughts or feelings about these freedoms or anything else in the speech. (Minimum 250 words, and quotes may not comprise more than 20% of your writing) Some might choose to skim much of text and get to the freedoms commentary toward the very end of the speech and stick to just that content. And while thats mandatory, some may choose to read everything carefully and also consider his thoughts on WWII, the military, democracy, and other issues before the Four Freedoms are enumerated. To get you thinking, what were the Four Freedoms and why does he champion them, according to the speech? What do you sense he was feeling and/or fearing, based on what you read? What do you personally think about his Four Freedoms ideas in terms of his own time period and even ours? Perhaps consider what he said about plans for the military and overseas allies. Do not answer these questions directly, as they are just designed to help you think of content for your post. Part 2: Next, choose one New Deal program that is still with us today and one that is not (see list below for options), and conduct light research to learn just what the agency or program accomplished for the American people. Provide intext citations for any quotes or specific facts from your research. No AI, copy-pasted plagiarism, or Wikipedia is allowed. Just write in your own casual, conversational voice and put any quotes from sources in quotation marks with citation to avoid plagiarism. Your explanations cannot simply consist of copied content but must reflect on two programs of your choosing in your own words as well. (Minimum 250 words) * New Deal programs still with us today – choose one (1) from among the seven: SEC (the Securities and Exchange Commission), FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), SSA (the Social Security Administration), TVA (the Tennessee Valley Authority), FCC (Federal Communications Commission), FHA (Federal Housing Administration), FCA (Farm Credit Administration) * New Deal program that once existed but now are gone – choose (1) from among the following: CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), NIRA Act (National Industrial Recovery Act), WPA (Works Progress Administration), PWA (Public Works Administration), Federal Project #1 (for the arts), Federal Writers Project/ slave narratives (a program to record oral history). Pt 3. In a minimum of 250 words, informally written and in first person (use I), share some key facts you learned about FDRs Four Freedoms speech and/or the New Deal programs you chose. Perhaps you simply relay some important information that you discovered, or perhaps you offer some personal thoughts and opinions. Want some more prompts to get you thinking? What made you choose the two New Deal programs that you did, what do you think these programs have meant to Americans, or what do they mean to you?