How successful was Roosevelt in persuading his listeners to agree with his point of view? Do you think this speech was successful?Write a paragraph in which you tell whether or not this speech was successful and why.

Answer:

Franklin D. Roosevelt was highly successful in persuading his listeners because he framed the conflict as a defense of universal human values. He appealed to the audience's sense of how governments should treat their people by defining the "Four Freedoms." He also appealed to people’s sense of pride in being an American and their shared commitment to democratic values. Roosevelt reassured people that the goal was to support those fighting for freedom to avoid entering the war if possible, though he prepared the nation for the necessity of defense. By giving citizens a way to direct their efforts toward keeping the world safe for democracy, he successfully mobilized public support for his policies.