Hist 152 Final Paper
Bryan S. Kelly Professor Haverty-Stacke
School id# Mr. Brenes
Final Paper
History 152, Section 009
5/2/08
What historical realities undermined America’s assertion of itself as the defender of freedom & democracy during World War II?
It was said that World War II was the war to rid the world of fear and to bring freedom, equality to the rest of the world. Now I ask… how does it look when a nation – one as great as the United States of America, the self-asserted defender of freedom and democracy states to bring such to the world, when such a nation was engaged in practices that undermined its own claims? How can a nation or any nation make such declarations when they are not being practiced within its own borders? There were a number of cases that were made during the war that really made these statements of defending freedom and democracy seem very hypocritical in context. To support my argument, I will draw upon the following:
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech on the “Four Freedoms” at stake in World War II
A recollection of the effect of internment on family unity by a Japanese-American
A letter from an African-American soldier to President Roosevelt regarding racial inequality in the army
In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his famous “Four Freedoms” speech. He lists the four freedoms as the following:
Freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world.
Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world.
Freedom from want – translated in world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world.
Freedom from fear – translated in world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a through fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor – anywhere in the world.1
The above “freedoms” are basically a summarized version of the Bill of
School id# Mr. Brenes
Final Paper
History 152, Section 009
5/2/08
What historical realities undermined America’s assertion of itself as the defender of freedom & democracy during World War II?
It was said that World War II was the war to rid the world of fear and to bring freedom, equality to the rest of the world. Now I ask… how does it look when a nation – one as great as the United States of America, the self-asserted defender of freedom and democracy states to bring such to the world, when such a nation was engaged in practices that undermined its own claims? How can a nation or any nation make such declarations when they are not being practiced within its own borders? There were a number of cases that were made during the war that really made these statements of defending freedom and democracy seem very hypocritical in context. To support my argument, I will draw upon the following:
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech on the “Four Freedoms” at stake in World War II
A recollection of the effect of internment on family unity by a Japanese-American
A letter from an African-American soldier to President Roosevelt regarding racial inequality in the army
In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his famous “Four Freedoms” speech. He lists the four freedoms as the following:
Freedom of speech and expression – everywhere in the world.
Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way – everywhere in the world.
Freedom from want – translated in world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants – everywhere in the world.
Freedom from fear – translated in world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a through fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor – anywhere in the world.1
The above “freedoms” are basically a summarized version of the Bill of