Topic > Analysis of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Entry into the War

The first two documents were presented before we entered the war. In those documents Roosevelt mainly uses the appeal to fear to "sell" the war. The language in the early documents was cold and harsh, which corresponds to the use of fear appeals. He also often said “we” when referring to what needs to be done. Saying “we” and including yourself among the American people is meant to show that you are no better than them and will face the same struggle. The “Economic Bill of Rights” was written during the war and Roosevelt mainly used the appeal to values ​​and patriotism. The language used in this document was overall more uplifting. The appeals used in conjunction with the language have not only changed over time, but the purpose of the document has also changed. Roosevelt uses more dominant language in this document. He refers to himself less as a part of “us.” This is because during war people look to the president for guidance and he must remain a strong figure even if the population is not. The initial documents were used to try to go to war versus the later document which was written to support the country during the war. Over time, Roosevelt adapted his political techniques to better fit what he was trying to accomplish and what the American public needed