Question 1 (worth 25 points): Write a 1-2 page essay (double-spaced, 12-point font) on
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1932 “Commonwealth Club Address.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “Commonwealth Club Address” (1932)
https://online.hillsdale.edu/document.doc?id=282
Roosevelt concludes the speech as follows: “Faith in America, faith in our tradition of
personal responsibility, faith in our institutions, faith in ourselves demands that we recognize
the new terms of the old social contract. We shall fulfill them, as we fulfilled the obligation
of the apparent Utopia which Jefferson imagined for us in 1776, and which Jefferson,
Roosevelt and Wilson sought to bring to realization. We must do so, lest a rising tide of
misery engendered by our common failure, engulf us all. But failure is not an American
habit; and in the strength of great hope we must all shoulder our common load.”
What does FDR mean here? How does this paragraph sum up the basic point of his speech?
What about the circumstances surrounding his speech causes him to worry about being
“engulfed” by “a rising tide of misery?” How does the speech propose “new terms of the old
social contract” to forestall this rising tide? How does FDR’s vision expand the meaning of
American citizenship?
Question 2 (50 points): Write a 2-3 page essay on Chris Lebron’s New York Times essay,
“What, To the Black American, Is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? (New York Times, January 18,
2015 @ http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/what-to-the-black-american-ismartin-luther-king-jr-day/?_r=0 .
This piece speaks to the core themes of our course, and your essay should comment on the
piece in a way that allows you to demonstrate knowledge of and appreciation for these core
themes.
Your essay should address at least the following questions: (1) what is the central point of
Lebron’s essay? (2) how does Lebron deliberately echo and reference authors and readings
discussed in class? (in discussing this, be sure to draw upon these authors/readings, along
with class discussions and films viewed, to demonstrate your knowledge of these things; this
part of the essay is your chance to demonstrate what you have learned in the class); (3) how
does Lebron’s piece present a challenge to its readers? And (4) as a reader, what do you think
about this challenge?
For (2) class readings are:
Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” (Fourth of July Oration), July
5, 1852
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/what-to-the-slave-is-the-fourth-ofjuly/
“Frederick Douglass, From Slave to Abolitionist.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-gz3u-1jM
1
Note: it is important that you give some thought to each question, and then carefully plan
and outline an answer to each question, before answering each question. Excellent essays
will carefully address the questions, paying careful attention to the way they are phrased;
offer clear answers to each question; draw on relevant class readings and discussions, using
quotes and specific references where appropriate; demonstrate knowledge developed in the
class; and be well written, well-structured, and neat, containing grammatical
sentences and no typos.
2
Question 1
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Common Wealth Club Speech” (September 23, 1932).
From the analysis of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1932 “Commonwealth Club Address,
it is evident and clear that Roosevelt concludes the speech as follows by arguing that faith in
America includes faith the people tradition values and beliefs of personal responsibility. This is
the faith that can help in the development of social institutions in the society (President Franklin
D. Roosevelt Speech, 1932). Such faith will demand that the people recognize the new terms of
the old social contract such as fulfilling new obligations and responsibilities (President Franklin
D. Roosevelt Speech, 1932). According to the speaker, it is also true that accepting new
obligations will involve the promotion of the Utopia which Jefferson imagined for the people in
late 1776. In that sense, people such as Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Wilson should work together to
make this dream to become a reality in the society. This will reduce common problems and
failures in the society thus increasing social welfare of all individuals in the society (President
Franklin D. Roosevelt Speech, 1932).
It is also evident and true that failure is not part of American beliefs, and people should
work together towards the achievement of common values and needs in the society.
Furthermore, Franklin Roosevelt also argued that the era of growth and proper entrepreneurship
activities should be addressed in the United States based on individual’s achievements and other
collective action campaigns. He also asserts that promoting civil rights will promote political as
well as economic development in the society.
It is also true that President Franklin Roosevelt address occurred in late 1932 and was
mainly in line with the great depression that occurred in the country. Due to this, Franklin
Roosevelt main focus was to inspire change and development in the society by invoking the
potential power of the youths in the society. According to him, democracy is the only solution
towards unending problems of social injustices in the society (President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Speech, 1932).
Franklin Roosevelt also outlines the history of government systems in Europe and depicts
some of the struggles and problems that encountered the government. However, he indicates that
the use of central government ruling systems is effective in promoting common development and
social democracy in the society. He believes in promoting peace and public participation in
government activities and practices (President Franklin D. Roosevelt Speech, 1932).
The government needs to hire skillful individuals to promote their operations in the society.
According to him, people should be given equal rights, freedom of speech as well as the right to
acquire wealth and resources in the society. The government has the right and duty to protect all
the needs and values of the people in the society (President Franklin D. Roosevelt Speech, 1932).
Protecting the rights of all individuals in the society is the only way of creating wealth and
increasing social justice to all in the society.
Franklin Roosevelt also indicated the importance of individual power as well as
collective power in the process of achieving common goals in the society. Although the country
was facing a great depression, he showed that through the use of individual power and collective
power, the society can overcome such problems in the economy (President Franklin D.
Roosevelt Speech, 1932).
Therefore, it is true and evident from Franklin Roosevelt address that people should work
together in the society to overcome political and economic challenges. The use of individual and
collective power can allow the exploitation of natural resources in the society; thus, promote
economic development to all individuals in the society. Problems such as under consumption,
poor production process and lack of provision of equal opportunities mostly hinder economic
development in the society. He also argues that all the public have the right to live as well as the
right to enjoy the decent living. In that sense, his aim was to inspire people to have confidence
in government services and to promote the traditional economic order of Thomas Jefferson.
References
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Common Wealth Club Speech” (September 23, 1932).
Retrieved from http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~ras2777/conlaw/fdr.html
Lebron, Chris (2015). What, to the Black America, Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Retrieved from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/what-to-the-black-american-ismartin-luther-king-jr-day/?_r=1
Based on the essay entitled, what, to the Black America, Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
By Chris Lebron, it is true and evident that the author main aim is to advocate for the values and
consideration of black American individuals in the society. He argues that as a brown American
from a lower class background in the society he faces some problems in the society. He also
asserts that his main aim is to ensure Martin Luther King dream of promoting American African
viewpoints and practices continue in the society. He believes in honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
means a lot to people in the United States of America. Martin Luther King together with other
activists in the society such as Malcolm X mainly advocated for the abolition of slave trade and
other bad social practices towards African American in the society. He argues that there is a big
difference between blacks and whites in the society.
There is a need for increase and promotion of civil rights in the society as a movement
towards the empowerment of African Americans in the society. Some of the things that should
be used to honor Martin Luther King according to the author are beyond clothes, cars and other
fancy materials in the society. The idea of post-racial American was introduced by Martin
Luther King and it has led to low racial inequality systems in the society. The author also argues
that all human beings have rights, common needs and should be accorded the same liberty as
well as respect in all spheres of their life.
Moreover, it is also worth noting that the provision of equal rights and recognition of
humanity can help in promoting respect to the blacks in the society. This was the main objective
of Dr. King in his life, and it is important that people respect the rights of all people in the
society. Martin fought for the struggle of black Americans and the right of blacks. His love for
the blacks was extraordinary and based on brotherly –sister love.
His struggle gave the people some of the common and effective rights towards
empowerment of black Africans in the United States such as the Civil rights and voting rights
policies and rules. Therefore, according to the author, it is important that we reflect on Martin
Luther beliefs and goals in life to celebrate his achievements in the society. This will promote
race relations in the society and reduce various problems such as discrimination activities against
black Africans and other individuals in the society. Racial marginalization and other
discrimination factors including slave trade practices are part of human problems in the society
that should be discouraged by all in the society.
There is the need for providing equal opportunities to all people in the American society
including providing equal educational and political participation to both blacks and whites in the
society. This will promote economic development and other proper social practices in the
society. In most cases, the blacks involved in bad social practices such as violent and drug abuse
problems due to lack of job opportunities in the society and it is true that preventing racial
discrimination will promote social justice systems in the society. This will result in an equal
distribution of wealth and economic resources in the society.
Therefore, it is true that the main points in Lebron essay are to promote civil rights and
equal opportunity to all individuals in the society. He argues that promoting Martin Luther
dreams will results into a moral society with proper social justice practices. He challenges
people to appreciate Martin Luther and other human rights activists by promoting their social
values and beliefs in the society.
References
Lebron, Chris (2015). What, to the Black America, Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
Retrieved from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/what-to-the-black-american-ismartin-luther-king-jr-day/?_r=1
Purchase answer to see full
attachment