Four Freedoms

Definition

Concepts outlined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1941 State of Union address - freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Analogy

Think of the Four Freedoms as the four essential ingredients in a recipe for democracy. Just like you can't make a cake without flour, eggs, sugar, and butter, you can't have a functioning democratic society without these four freedoms.

Related terms

Atlantic Charter: A joint declaration released by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that provided a broad statement of U.S. and British war aims.

New Deal: A series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: An international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings.