Roosevelt is presenting the most cost-effective method for defending freedom. Recognizing America's reliance on other countries to keep the bad guys at bay, FDR weighed the pros and cons of maintaining neutrality versus becoming involved in the war.

He decided that indirect involvement, in the form of weapons lending, was better than direct involvement—which would unavoidably lead to the loss of American lives. Framed as a suggestion, FDR is actually displaying his power as commander-in-chief. This statement is less of a proposal and more of an executive decision. It's a promise to U.S. allies that help is on the way.

It wasn't far off, but the slap-chop of military weapons hadn't yet been completed, so prepping an entire country for war mode was a huge deal.

It required the immense reorganization of industrial production plants, new job duties and skill sets, food and materials rationing, and a billion other things all focused on the war effort. Perhaps for motivation, FDR defines a prize worthy of the fight—the legacy of freedom. Though he puts the happiness of all future children on the line, he also places the continuation of that happiness in the hands of Americans: hands that have to be fast, free, and able to tackle whatever challenges might arise.

This idea is connected to an earlier section about domestic efforts, when FDR says, "The need of the moment is that our actions and our policy should be devoted primarily—almost exclusively—to meeting this foreign peril. For all our domestic problems are now a part of the great emergency" (48-49).

Just one line after FDR entrusts the people with the entirety of future happiness, he introduces for the first time the notion of "sacrifice." True, this seems like the logical conclusion to what he's requesting/telling people to do, but he doesn't address it directly until two-thirds of the way through the speech.

When he does, though, he leaves little room for interpretation. Only a few lines later, he makes the very plain statement that "a part of sacrifice means the payment of more money in taxes" (133). There was probably an audible groan from sea to shining sea when he announced that.

And those freedoms are? Freedom of speech and worship, and freedom from want and fear. This line introduces the most important part of FDR's address: the Four Freedoms. In doing so, he gives shape to the bright future he's been talking about the entire time. He also provides an answer to the rhetorical question "what are we fighting for?"

In the final paragraph, FDR provides a tight summary. In a long speech, sometimes the main points can become lost or forgotten in the flow of information. In case you find yourself needing a bit of a reminder, hop down to this last part.

The breakdown is as follows: 1) the future is in the hands of America's Americans; 2) the goal is to achieve complete equality and the best human rights everywhere in the world; 3) as a world power, the United States will provide "support," i.e. war materials, to other democracies in need; 4) it's "all for one and one for all"; 5) America's goals are based on high morals, and therefore victory is necessary and inevitable.