From the beginning of the Great Depression that hit the country and devastated millions after the abrupt conclusion of the roaring 20s to the start of the Second World War in Europe, President Roosevelt had successfully run for and won two elections. However, during his third election, he met significant opposition, for a third term had never been attempted since George Washington left office. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was justified in running for a third term because of the extenuating circumstances at the time, such as the unrest in Europe, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. The period from 1939-1945 was an extremely perilous time for America, where America joined in on the second worldwide war, and millions died in battle to new weapons
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Roosevelt, elected as president in 1932, (Commire 2) was the man who many looked to with great respect as the president who took great effort to bring them out of that period of suffering, and was so popular he was re-elected as president twice. However, in 1939, a year before he was supposed to leave office, “Germany invaded Poland after signing a treaty with the Soviet Union. In 1933, 6 years before this invasion of Poland, Hitler had come to power, swiftly violated many of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and began to rearm”(6). Although other European countries seemed to take no note of his suspicious behavior, Roosevelt understood the risks. And so, in 1940, after winning his election against Wendell Wilkie of Indiana, he began to take precautions. “On May 27, 1941, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that an "unlimited national emergency" existed, requiring military "readiness to repel any and all acts or threats of aggression directed toward any part of the Western Hemisphere." (“Churchill, Winston and Franklin D. Roosevelt” 2). His preparation was significant because about 8 months later on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked a U.S. naval base in Hawaii in order to incapacitate them in the
Roosevelt, elected as president in 1932, (Commire 2) was the man who many looked to with great respect as the president who took great effort to bring them out of that period of suffering, and was so popular he was re-elected as president twice. However, in 1939, a year before he was supposed to leave office, “Germany invaded Poland after signing a treaty with the Soviet Union. In 1933, 6 years before this invasion of Poland, Hitler had come to power, swiftly violated many of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and began to rearm”(6). Although other European countries seemed to take no note of his suspicious behavior, Roosevelt understood the risks. And so, in 1940, after winning his election against Wendell Wilkie of Indiana, he began to take precautions. “On May 27, 1941, U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that an "unlimited national emergency" existed, requiring military "readiness to repel any and all acts or threats of aggression directed toward any part of the Western Hemisphere." (“Churchill, Winston and Franklin D. Roosevelt” 2). His preparation was significant because about 8 months later on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked a U.S. naval base in Hawaii in order to incapacitate them in the