INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY

HSSF 0354

SECTION 704

TITLE:

THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, 4TH MARCH 1933

PREPARED BY: -

PREPARED FOR: -

SEMESTER 2

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 28/1/2024

Arguably the most meaningful speech for American during the Great Depression

period, the famous quote “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” in the speech is

delivered by the 32nd president of America, Franklin D. Roosevelt during his first inaugural

on March 4, 1933. In the immediate aftermath of Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural

address, many Americans sent their new president reactions to the speech (Davis W. Houck

& Mihaela Nocasian 2002).

One source that verify the primary nature of Franklin D. Roosevelt speech is the video

of the speech itself that can be found on YouTube (C-SPAN 2009). To strengthen the video

credibility, one’s can find out the full, original script of the speech itself from National

Archive which houses the original script for the speech. National Archive primary goals are

to ensure the preservation of valuable historical records, facilitate public access to these

records, and promote transparency in government by providing a historical record of official

actions and decisions. Therefore, based on my research, the speech that can be found on

YouTube (C-SPAN 2009) is legit and is supported by another primary source that is the

script of the speech itself.

In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his very first inaugural speech, addressing

the Great Depression (1929–1941) explicitly. Shortly after Roosevelt took office, on March

4, 1933, the address was given. In his speech, President Franklin D. Roosevelt discussed the

challenges that the country encountered during the Great Depression. Declaring that fear was

the only thing to fear. Roosevelt intentionally kept his reference to “fear” found in the speech

first paragraph vague and abstract (Ira Chernus & Randall Fowler 2023). He highlighted the

importance of being honest and courageous when facing the economic crisis. While

acknowledging the tangible challenges, Roosevelt denounced the shortcomings of the

financial establishment and demanded the return of moral principles. To solve

unemployment, population redistribution, increase agricultural values, prevent home

foreclosures, and reduce government spending, Roosevelt suggested taking immediate action.

He supported the establishment of a sound currency, tight regulation of banking and

investing, and an end to speculation. Prioritizing the country's recovery over international

economic relations was Roosevelt's stated goal. Roosevelt affirmed his faith in the capacity

of the American people to overcome obstacles by cooperating, making sacrifices, and acting

with discipline. To address the situation, he reaffirmed his readiness to suggest to Congress

any necessary actions as well as to take on extensive executive authority if required. The

speech ended with a prayer for God's blessing, an appeal for national unity, and a

commitment to moral principles.

In conclusion, the significance of the speech is to encourage American citizens to face

the problem that they were experiencing with confidence, unity, and collective responsibility.
3. Two methods to determine the authenticity of the speech

To determine the authenticity of the speech, the test of credibility and corroboration

can be applied.

Firstly, the credibility of Franklin D. Roosevelt speech is supported by its direct

association with National Archive, which houses the original script for the speech that can be

mostly found in its digital form. National Archive are entrusted with the responsibility of

preserving and managing history official record, which can include government documents,

legal papers, and historical artifacts, adds a significant layer of authenticity to Roosevelt's

speech. This association with the National Archives enhances the credibility of Franklin D.

Roosevelt's speech.

Secondly, the corroboration method adds more evidence to support the validity of

Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech. A consistent account that I found through cross-referencing

the speech's text from the National Archives with other credible historical sources that is from

Google Scholar, FDR and Fear Itself: The First Inaugural Address (Davis W. Houck, 2002, p.

3) and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First

Inauguration 1933). Both houses the speech precisely and accurately proving the validity of

Roosevelt’s speech.
4. Limitation of the speech

Since the speech is in form of video, there are two main weaknesses that can be

found.

Firstly, the video quality and resolution impact the clarity of the content. Because the

video resolution is low, it affects the ability to notice Roosevelt’s facial expressions in the

delivery of the speech. In the context of a low-resolution video, discerning facial expressions

becomes challenging. Facial expressions are crucial non-verbal cues that can convey

emotions, intentions, or nuances in a Roosevelt’s message. The lack of clarity due to low

resolution make it difficult to accurately interpret these facial expressions, potentially

impacting the understanding of the Roosevelt’s emotional tone or emphasis.

Lastly, the video audio quality makes it challenging in observing citizens' reactions.

This interferes the analysis of audience responses such as applause, cheers, or other reactions.

Therefore, it impacts the ability to gauge how the speech resonated with the audience,

limiting our ability to fully comprehend the speech's influence without the use of auditory

clues.
5. Two other historical sources that been used to corroborate with the main speech

Both additional historical sources are taken from Google Scholar to ensure that the

content provide is credible and trustworthy.

Firstly, the supporting historical sources that I use to corroborate with Roosevelt’s

speech are taken from a book titled “Something to Fear: FDR and the Foundations of

American Insecurity, 1912–1945” published by Ira Chernus & Randall Fowler on 17

November 2023. This book verifies the speech the way it describes and clarify Roosevelt’s

speech main point as what he intends to achieve fully connected to the main material that I

used.

Secondly, using journal article that can be found on JSTOR (FDR's First Inaugural

Address: Text, Context, and Reception, Davis W. Houck & Mihaela Nocasian, 2002), is

used as an additional source to corroborate with Roosevelt’s speech. This article provides a

text from the speech, context, and reception to increase the understanding of the speech. The

article itself provides consistent content, thus strengthens the validity of Roosevelt’s speech.
6. Two causes that lead to the historical speech

Firstly, the event that cause Roosevelt’s to deliver his speech is because he wins the

election in 1932 needing him to deliver a speech during his first inaugural address. President

Herbert Hoover was defeated by Roosevelt in the 1932 presidential elections. Roosevelt's

"New Deal" promise and his dedication to implementing policies that would offer relief,

recovery, and reform during the economic crisis had an effect in the American people's

election of him. Roosevelt used his inaugural speech, which signalled the start of his

presidency, to lay out his plans for resolving the urgent problems facing the nation and to

express his vision.

Secondly, the event that led to Roosevelt’s speech was because of the Great

Depression period. The United States was amid the Great Depression, which began in 1929

with the stock market crash. By 1933, the country was facing severe economic hardships,

widespread unemployment, and a collapse of the banking system. The economic crisis

created a sense of urgency and a need for bold, decisive action to address the challenges

facing the nation. The New Deal had a big impact on the nation even it didn't totally solve the

Great Depression, it helped millions of Americans to find work and relief, lessened their

immediate suffering, and enacted long-term changes that established the contemporary

welfare state. The federal government's involvement in the economy changed with the New

Deal, which also set the stage for a number of subsequent social and economic initiatives.
7. One significant change between the technology used in the past with the current

invention.

One notable technological change or advancement between the past and today is the

development of broadcasting and communication technologies. In the past, speeches were

mostly given live on radio broadcasts, especially during the administration of Franklin D.

Roosevelt in the early 20th century. Roosevelt was able to establish a direct line of

communication with the American people through radio addresses such as his "fireside

chats." With the advancement of technology, speeches can now be delivered and shared via a

variety of platforms, such as social media, the internet, and television. Today's leaders may

instantaneously reach a worldwide audience by broadcasting their speeches live on television.

Furthermore, lectures can be quickly shared and viewed on websites like YouTube, Twitter,

and other social media outlets, making them available to audiences worldwide in real time or

at their convenience. In addition to increasing the reach of speeches, the shift from radio

broadcasts to a multimedia environment has altered how people interact with and respond to

political and public speeches. The nature and impact of political speech have been

significantly impacted by the common availability and immediacy of modern communication

technology.
8. Two contributions of history to the development of media technology today

Historical developments like the printing press and the telegraph served as

fundamental cornerstones that shaped the landscape of communication, information

dissemination, and connectivity in ways that are still relevant in the current digital age. These

historical threads have woven crucial elements into the very fabric of modern media

technology.

Firstly, the revolution of the printing press contributing Johannes Gutenberg's creation

of the printing press in the fifteenth century completely changed the manner that knowledge

was shared. The printing press made it possible to produce written materials in large

quantities, such as books, newspapers, and pamphlets. The impact on the media technology

today is it promoted the expansion of literacy, made knowledge more widely available, and

made idea sharing easier. The printing press made significant contributions to the

development of mass communication and the availability of knowledge to a wide audience,

even if current media have progressed well beyond printed materials. The philosophy of

information dissemination, which continues to affect digital media and internet journalism

today, was inspired by the historical growth of print media.

Secondly, the development of instant communication and the telegraph. Samuel

Morse's development of the telegraph in the 19th century revolutionized long-distance

communication. With the telegraph, electrical impulses and Morse code could be used to send

messages quickly and over long distances. Information transmission speed significantly

increased with the invention of the telegraph. It made it possible for people to communicate

in real time and for the term "breaking news." The telephone, radio, and eventually the

internet was all made possible by the rapid advancement of electronic communication

technologies, which were made possible by this capacity to transport information over great
distances. In the digital age, where real-time updates and notifications are essential to the

media environment, the telegraph's emphasis on instantaneous communication has influenced

how news is conveyed and delivered.

C-SPAN. (2009, January 14). President Franklin Roosevelt 1933 inauguration. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/MX_v0zxM23Q?si=IhSJXp6D9TxK5-vC

National Archives and Records Administration. (2016, September 23). FDR’s first inaugural
address declaring “War” on the Great Depression. National Archives and Records
Administration. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/fdr-inaugural

Chernus, I., & Fowler, R. (2023, November 17). Something to fear. Google Scholar.
https://books.google.com.my/books?
hl=id&lr=&id=nnjkEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP9&dq=Something%2Bto%2BFear
%3A%2BFDR%2Band%2Bthe%2BFoundations%2Bof%2BAmerican%2BInsecurity
%2C
%2B1912%E2%80%931945&ots=ojOYlXw9oW&sig=AoPQwVZ08sOl8yf_hPoKg7y
1NS8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Houck, D. W., & Nocasian, M. (2002). FDR’s First Inaugural Address: Text, Context, and
Reception. Rhetoric and Public Affairs, 5(4), 649–678. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41940292

Houck, D. W. (2002). FDR and fear itself. Google Scholar.

Franklin D. Roosevelt. (n.d.). Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inauguration, 1933. Franklin D.