Franklin D. Roosevelt and World War ll - Term Paper Example

Franklin D. Roosevelt and the World War II Introduction: Who is a Leader? Irrespective of the fact that notions, ideals and respective conceptionsabout leadership and characteristics or attributes of a leader have changed in different periods of time according to socio-cultural and socio-political situation, however, the basic idea has remained unaltered that a leader is an individual who would prudently lead his/her followers to overcome a situation of crisis; consequently, will help them to attain benefits, keeping in mind the factors of both communal and respective requirement. The history of human civilization, especially the field of political leadership, has helped in yielding several great leaders but the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) has attained a special position of his own from his understanding of politics, people’s requirement from the government and leading the nation at the topmost position in the scenario of global politics by overcoming all the consequential constraints from the socio-cultural, socio-political and socio-economic perspectives. Despite his physical disabilities, Roosevelt’s self confidence and optimism helped him to a great extent in overcoming all the situational obstacles. As a leader he was highly successful in catering traits of this optimism among his fellow countrymen and encouraged them with the moral strength that if a person wishes he can overcome all the difficulties. Prior to the Presidential tenure of Roosevelt the relationship between the government and common people was not very transparent. He was the first President of the United States who introduced a radical transformation in this field and initiated several policies that helped to a great extent in common welfare. Quite naturally, these traits of his leadership style earned him a great deal of support from common Americans, who previously had no other option that to rely on themselves to overcome their financial and social crisis. As a President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt encountered two greatest problems of the American history, namely, the Great Depression and the World War II. His prudence, and outstanding moral courage not only helped the United States of America from to revive from both these situations, but at the same time, in the long run, it also helped the nation to emerge as the most powerful nation in the entire world: economically and resourcefully. Russell Freedman in this context has quite aptly recollected the contribution of the 32nd American President: “During Roosevelt’s administration, the federal government, for the first time, made itself responsible for the welfare of those Americans who suffered economic hardship through no fault of their own. “They have a right to call upon the government for aid,” he said, “and a government worthy of the name must make a fitting response”. Under FDR’s leadership, the United States also assumed the responsibilities of a world power. When he came to office, America had a little influence overseas. As late as 1939, the U.S. Army ranked eighteenth in the world, behind those of Romania and Spain. When Roosevelt died in 1945 … America had become to most powerful nation in history. In his historic meetings with other wartime leaders, FDR helped create the United Nations and the political framework of the postwar world.”1 The Second World War and role of Roosevelt as the President: The greatest challenge for President Roosevelt in helping the nation from overcoming the greatest crisis emerged in the form of the World War II. The platform to test his true leadership quality was already developed in 1933. While in the Western global domain Roosevelt was ready to the charge of presidential position in the United States, at the same time, in Germany, Adolf Hitler also rose to power. Later on he proved to be the most dominant threat against stability of the entire global political situation including that of the United States.2 Hitler, as the leader of Germany was complete resolute to take revenge against the arbitrary decisions that were imposed upon his nation aftermath the World War I and started making preparations to take the entire world under scope of his tyrannical rule – the process of which commenced by invading Poland.3 Irrespective of receiving the impressions that Hitler’s dictatorial approaches are gradually becoming more powerful and threatening against the global democracy, the major powers of the Western democracy, including Great Britain, France and the United States remains almost passive as they were more concerned about overcoming the economic crisis resulted due to the worldwide depression: “The dictatorship grew steadily more powerful and aggressive during the 1930s. And yet the great Western democracies – Britain, France, and the United States – stood by and did nothing first. Weakened by the worldwide depression, the democracies were too preoccupied with their own problems to take a stand against aggression.”4 However, it was not President Roosevelt’s personal will to remain passive and endure the evil to grow stronger but he had no other option than to remain silent because the American common section did not have adequate understanding of the looming danger and they wished to remain inactive. Brenda Haugen’s observation in this context becomes highly relevant as the author has provided quite logical explanation of the situation: “Had Roosevelt had his own way, the United States would likely to have entered World War II much sooner than it did. He recognized the danger Hitler posed to the world. But as president, Roosevelt has to wait until other Americans began to see it, too. For now, the majority of the country wanted to remain neutral, despite pleas for help from Great Britain.”5 His anticipation of the common global plight under the threat of dictatorship becomes clear from the observation as he professed in 1937, with a close consideration of the changing global scenario and Hitler’s rise to power: “Innocent peoples … innocent nations are being cruelly sacrificed to a greed for power …. If those things come to pass in other parts of the world, let no one imagine that America will escape, that America may expect mercy, that this Western Hemisphere will not be attacked and that it will continue tranquilly and peacefully to carry on the ethics and the art of civilization.”6 In 1939 (14th April), in another famous speech “A Message to Hitler and Mussolini”, he mentioned the risk of a “common ruin” if their warmongering continues and finally that would lead to collapse of the entire human civilization. Consequently, he also expressed his optimism and attempted to appeal the benevolent will of the leaders to forget their respective differences and instead of becoming indulged in the act of war they must collaborate to help their people for attaining a better future: “If such threats continue, it seems inevitable that much of the world must become involved in the common ruin. All the world, victor nations, vanquished nations, and neutral nations, will suffer. I refuse to believe that the world is … such a prisoner of destiny. On the contrary it is clear that the leader of great nations have it in their power to liberate their peoples from the disaster that impends.”7 However, President Roosevelt’s appeal, very soon, proved to be of no use as by waging war against Poland Hitler soon proved that he is absolutely resolute to accomplish his purpose. His occupation over Poland was just a matter of time as the Polish army did not have strength to defeat the German Army. The aggressive nature of Nazi rule became more explicit and threatening as within duration of a year the Nazi force occupied a great portion of Europe, defeated the French and kept on attacking over Britain, gradually weakening her defenses.8 The United States, under the leadership of the contemporary President tried all possible ways to refrain herself from the destruction and participation of the war but the sudden attack on the Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 left her with no other choice than to participate in the war directly.9 On December 9, 1941 President Roosevelt criticized the attack in explicit terms and as a response against treacherous behavior of Japan, violating the situation of peace with the United States, he declared war: “The sudden criminal attacks perpetrated by the Japanese in the Pacific provide the climax of a decade of immorality. Powerful and resourceful gangsters have banded together to make war upon the whole human race. Their challenge has now been flung at the United States of America …. The Congress and the people of the United States have accepted that challenge. Together with other free peoples, we are now fighting to maintain out right to live among our world neighbors in freedom and in common decency, without fear of assault.”10 The long waited participation of the United States clearly became not only a matter of great help for Britain but the Allies force received more potential in terms of strategic advancement, supply of human resource to execute the plan of actions against Axis approaches, financial help and most importantly, moral courage. The attack on the unprepared and innocent sailors as well as soldiers of the United States led to a strong antagonism among common people of the United States and consequently, a large number of young people joined the army to avenge the insult that the Axis force inflicted over their nation. The Atlantic Treaty, signed between the United States and Britain helped the Allies to capitalize on the weakness of the Third Reich and President Roosevelt’s contribution in this context is undeniable because his understanding of the war situation led him to develop such a powerful naval force that would prove to be highly effective even in the most adverse of situations. On one hand, while he played a leading role in developing the postwar strategic plans, on the other, in January 1943, he personally visited Morocco to meet the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to develop the possible strategic approaches in order to execute the D-Day operations. In June 1944 the D-Day operation was successfully accomplished and this defeat of the Axis force against the Allies is widely recognized as the beginning of the end of the Nazi supremacy.11 Conclusion: The course of the Second World War, which proved to be the greatest threat against progress of the human civilization, was oriented by the United States since her participation aftermath the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. There was a huge possibility that course of the war could have been different but the moral courage and strength that President Roosevelt catered among common Americans inspired them to take revenge against the unjust attack that they had to encounter. Apart from providing moral courage President Roosevelt also adopted the adequate strategic planning that helped the Allied force to receive triumph over the Axis. As a President, Roosevelt not only helped the people of the nation to recover the situation of crisis to the best extent possible but also as a true leader he involved himself, empathized with the plight of common people across the globe, irrespective of their apparent differences and finally played a very crucial role in helping the American democracy as well as the global politics to overcome the evil of Hitler’s dictatorial evil during the Second World War. Bibliography Allport, Alan. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2003. Elish, Dan. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. New Work: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2009. Freedman, Russell, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1992. Haugen, Brenda. Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The New Deal President. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2006. Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. “Quarantine Address: Chicago, October 5, 1937.” Great Speeches. Massachusetts: Courier Dover Publications, 1999. Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. “A Message to Hitler and Mussolini: April 14, 1939.” Rendezvous With Destiny: Addresses and Opinions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 2005. Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. “A Broadcast to the Nation: December 9, 1941”. Rendezvous With Destiny: Addresses and Opinions of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 2005. Read More