Preserving Democracy
As a response to growing threats of terrorism and rising tensions among the citizens of the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented a speech in December of 1940. Throughout this speech, Roosevelt expressed America's need to withhold its stance as a great "arsenal of democracy."
In large part, Roosevelt's memorable speech was a response of a Germany's threats toward Great Britain. If Germany succeeded in taking over Great Britain, democracy would be hanging by a thread; America would remain the only democratic superpower in the world. Roosevelt recognized this warning to be as serious as it could possibly be. Although at this point, he did not wish for the United States to enter the war, he was seemingly unknowingly readying his citizens' mindsets for a nearly inevitable future.
On December 11, 1941, just four days after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Congress declared war on Germany and its allies, known as the Axis Powers. After two years of avoiding major conflict, America decided it was finally time to defend the existence of democracy -- enough was enough.
In large part, Roosevelt's memorable speech was a response of a Germany's threats toward Great Britain. If Germany succeeded in taking over Great Britain, democracy would be hanging by a thread; America would remain the only democratic superpower in the world. Roosevelt recognized this warning to be as serious as it could possibly be. Although at this point, he did not wish for the United States to enter the war, he was seemingly unknowingly readying his citizens' mindsets for a nearly inevitable future.
On December 11, 1941, just four days after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Congress declared war on Germany and its allies, known as the Axis Powers. After two years of avoiding major conflict, America decided it was finally time to defend the existence of democracy -- enough was enough.