How does Roosevelt connect his assertion…

History Questions

How does Roosevelt connect his assertion that this speech takes place at an unprecedented moment to his later claim that this speech is unique in our history?

Answer

Roosevelt establishes this connection by systematically contrasting earlier moments in American history with the present situation. He begins his historical references with the year 1789, a pivotal year when the US Constitution was enacted, coinciding intriguingly with the French Revolution. Delivered before Congress on January 6, 1941, the speech came during a time when World War II was significantly unfolding, with Nazi Germany and the Axis powers claiming victory after victory. France had succumbed, and nations like Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Poland had also fallen. Only the United Kingdom was holding out against Nazi aggression, with Churchill urgently seeking both material and moral support from the United States. The Nazi advance appeared relentless, and the Blitz was ravaging London. Roosevelt indicates that advances in technology had shrunk the world, eliminating the protective oceanic distances that once shielded America from European conflicts. The Axis powers’ brutality and ambition meant that once they solidified their control over Europe, an attack on the US was almost inevitable. This combination of unprecedented global threats led Roosevelt to assert the uniqueness of this historical moment, illustrating this claim with concrete examples during his speech.

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