Question

Consider that President Roosevelt delivered the "Four Freedoms" speech on January 6, 1941. What is the historical context of this speech in relation to WWII?

Answer 1

1941 State of the Union Address ("Four Freedoms speech")

4 Freedoms:
1.) Freedom of speech
2.) Freedom of worship
3.) Freedom from want
4.) Freedom from fear

When Roosevelt gave this address to Congress, WWII had been raging on for almost 3 years, but hadn't formally entered the U.S. yet (that would be 11 months later).

Think of the effects WWI had on the United States and its citizens. A policy of non-interventionism and isolationism were put into place. Americans desperately wanted to be kept out of another war, although Roosevelt felt the need to help allies that were already engaged:

"As men do not live by bread alone, they do not fight by armaments alone."

Try to put those four freedoms into context... What was the "fear" he talked about?

Try Wiki also, it's where I found some info. :)