Read the excerpts from Roosevelt's "Four
Freedoms" speech and Lincoln's "Gettysburg
Address."
Roosevelt:
This nation has placed its destiny in the hands and
heads and hearts of its millions of free men and
women; and its faith in freedom under the guidance of
God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights
everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle
to gain those rights or keep them. Our strength is our
unity of purpose. To that high concept there can be no
end save victory.
Lincoln:
To be here dedicated to the great task remaining
before us - that from these honored dead we take
increased devotion to that cause for which they gave
the last full measure of devotion that we here highly
In these excerpts, Roosevelt states "this nation has
placed its destiny" and Lincoln states "shall not perish
from earth." With these phrases, both presidents are
stressing the importance of
achieving victory no matter what the cost.
ending the war as quickly as possible.
preserving freedom far into the future.
making tough sacrifices for one's nation.