Four Freedoms Speech

Definition

Part of FDR’s State of the Union Address in 1941 where he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people 'everywhere in the world' should enjoy - Freedom of speech and expression; Freedom to worship God each one’s own way; Freedom from want; Freedom from fear.

Related terms

Freedom House: An independent watchdog organization dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world. It was inspired by FDR's Four Freedoms Speech.

Atlantic Charter: A joint declaration released by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on August 14, 1941 that provided a broad statement of U.S. and British war aims, including the idea of Four Freedoms.

United Nations: An international organization formed in 1945 to increase political and economic cooperation among its member countries. The concept of 'Four Freedoms' influenced the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.