Chantel Howard

Professor: Chad Ostler

History 1700- Document Analysis #3
25 March 2016
From Franklin D. Roosevelt, Fireside Chat (1934)
Roosevelt is telling us his ideas about freedom, government control, and the employment
of the citizens. He will stand by his country and refuses to allow unemployment to take over
control. Some people try to tell me that we must make up our minds that in the future we shall
permanently have millions of unemployed just as other countries have had them for over a
decade. What may be necessary for those countries is not my responsibility to determine. But as
for this country, I stand or fall by my refusal to accept as a necessary condition of our future a
permanent army of unemployed..(Pg.655) Comparing Roosevelts views to some of the current
Democratic presidential candidates views shows a lot of similarities. I see resemblance in his
views and Bernie Sanders, he believes in bettering America and standing by his country. He
believes the job of the government is to help out everyone in need of help, no matter the capacity.
He believes that we should stand together and you should be able to rely on falling back
and trusting in your government in times when you need that support. I believe with Abraham
Lincoln, that "the legitimate object of Government is for a community of people whatever they
need to have done but cannot do at all or cannot do so well for themselves in their separate and
individual capacities."(Pg. 655) Its interesting to see how he got his word out to the country, I
like how he utilized the radio to speak directly to Americans. It gives off this intimate way of
communicating and makes Americans feel more involved in what is happening in their country.

I prefer and I am sure you prefer that broader definition of liberty under which we are moving
forward to greater freedom, to greater security for the average man than he has ever known
before in the history of America.(Pg. 655) He has hopes in bettering America and providing
security and freedom to all. This gives Americans hope in all areas, it provides comfort to those
in fear of losing their jobs and becoming part of the unemployment army. When your president
is confident and has hope for the country that encourages Americans to feel the same.
From John Steinbeck, The Harvest Gypsies: On The Road To The Grapes of Wrath (1938)
I feel as if Steinbeck is trying to change the way Americans view these migrants. They
dont see them as people they see them as trouble and that is not how he views them. He sees
them as hard working people who have lived an unprivileged life and are trying to make a new
life for themselves. Many Americans then were probably worried about finding work during the
Great Depression and with the threat of these migrants coming in and taking all the work away
from them since they are probably willing to work for lower wages. They are small farmers
who have lost their farms, or farm hands who have lived with the family in the old American
way... They have come from the little farm districts where democracy was not only possible but
inevitable, where popular government, where practiced in the Grange, in church organization or
in local government, was the responsibility of every man. And they have come into the country
where, because of the movement necessary to make a living, they are not allowed any vote
whatever, but are rather considered a properly unprivileged class.. (Pg. 656) This is something
that we can relate to today with how people still view migrants as evil and want them out of
the country. It doesnt help having another Republican presidential candidate making people
believe that they truly are evil and should not be allowed to enter the country. Donald Trump is
out there preaching about how these migrants will come and steal all the work from the

Americans and to prevent this we must make Mexico build a wall to keep them out. The
drought in the middle west has driven the agricultural populations of Oklahoma, Nebraska and
parts of Kansas and Texas westward.. Thousands of them crossing the borders in ancient rattling
automobiles, destitute and hungry and homeless, ready to accept any pay so that they may eat
and feed their children. (Pg.656) These are human beings who are struggling and trying to
survive like we are, yet Americans view migrants as a threat. If we are fed lies and have people
of power telling us how horrible they are eventually everyone starts believing this.
I see similarities between these two pieces in how much hope both these men have for a
better America. They voice themselves in different way but use the power of media and their
voice to get a message across to Americans. Roosevelt uses the radio and his talk show to give
Americans hope and comfort and Steinbeck uses his book to help Americans have sympathy for
the migrants. Both men has similar views on freedom and liberty, they just want the best for the
people, and believe in using their voice to show Americans that.