Freedom Does Not Come Without Cost Analysis

Christopher Kruger
Mr. Williams
US History PBL
14 April 2017
Freedom Does Not Come Without Cost
During World War II, President Roosevelt gave a speech about the four freedoms that everyone worldwide should be able to live their life with. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear. The U.S. did the best job possible during the war to try and uphold these freedoms and made decisions in the best interest of the world. The nature of war being brutal and violent provides that some freedoms were not possible to grant, however the actions of the U.S. were in order to protect our freedoms, as well as these freedoms abroad in the future. Cases such as the atomic bomb show how the U.S. had to make a decision that
That is because we are not currently in a war against a nation with a merciless leader. The intent of Japanese internment was to prevent any unloyal Japanese Americans taking orders from Japan’s emperor from turning on the government and disrupting military plans. Despite the internment denying freedom of speech and freedom from want to the Japanese Americans, ultimately this would support the freedom from fear for Americans who considered the possibility of hostility from Japanese Americans a large concern, as well as give the U.S. the best possible chance of winning the war, to protect the four freedoms for the world. Document two, an informative video from the U.S. Office of War Information states the ways that the Japanese were treated humanely in these camps, and that the government provided for basic needs in the best way that was possible under the circumstances. Some were even allowed some to go outside the camp to work during the day. In the case of Korematsu vs. the U.S. government (document 3), the Supreme Court decided that the need for protection against spies and espionage was a greater issue than the rights of Japanese Americans. The fact that the supreme court justified the internment by a vote of six to three shows the magnitude of the concern, and shows how the interment was believed to ultimately support the freedoms at risk in the war. Cases such as the SS St. Louis which
boomed during the war, which provided a great opportunity for job growth. President Roosevelt issued executive order 8803, which boosted job opportunities for African American who were previously greatly discriminated against when applying. This executive order was a way to uphold freedom from want, as it allowed black people in our country to support themselves, and face less discrimination in the jobforce. It was a long struggle to get to this point in history, but once this decision was made, it was another way the U.S. supported the freedoms during the