Somerset Davidson
History 1700
Franklin Roosevelt
Current foreign domestic policy is affected by the four freedoms and domestic policy in
which Roosevelt acknowledged during his State of the Union Address, in that it focuses upon
the freedoms American have and the rules by which we keep those freedoms not only for
ourselves but for other nations as well. The domestic policy correlates with the four freedoms
in that an aggressor takes over the individual’s rights and independences and therefore if we
are to keep our freedoms we need to fight against the aggressors.
The freedoms that Roosevelt addresses consist of the freedom of speech, religion, from
want and from fear. In order to have such freedoms for the American people and others,
Roosevelt discusses the national policy of an all-inclusive national defense, full support to all
those resisting aggression and never permitting peace for America by means of promises by the
aggressors at the expense of other people’s freedoms. This policy keeps intact the means in
which America keeps its freedoms by not allowing belligerents to force their ideas whether it is
speech, religion, or cohesion through fear to control others.
Today Americans can see that domestic policy in force, as troops are used to defend
their country or other countries under attack. Foreign policy dictates that America will not take
over a country but help those countries in need to establish their own freedoms. At the same
times America will not take freedom or peace from an aggressor by means of ignoring the
freedom of others being stripped away.
Without protecting the freedoms of others, like Roosevelt said “No realistic American
can expect from a dictator’s peace international generosity or return of true independence.”
Roosevelt felt that American’s needed to protect the very rights they held by respecting the
right of others because regardless the war would be theirs eventually. If American wanted to
hold on to those rights then the rest of the world needed to hold on to them as well.
Works Cited

American Experience, “America’s Rise to Globalism,” Chapter 26, p.725

Franklin Roosevelt, “ State of the Union” (1941), Chapter 28