Introduction
Freedom is defined by dictionary.com as being, "the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action." Students might define freedom as being able to do what they want, when they want. Circumstances often play an important role in what an individual, a community, a country, or an entire world considers important. During Franklin Delano Roosevelt's time as President of the United States the United States experienced an economic depression, a world war, and vastly changing ideas regarding, race, gender, education, etc. In 1941 F.D.R. identified four key freedoms that he believed were universal and at the heart of a free nation. Two of the freedoms listed by FDR were the freedoms to do something. The other two freedoms were freedom from something. Artist Norman Rockwell was able to transform FDR's ideas into images through his series known simply as, "The Four Freedoms." Rockwell's images have become synonymous with FDR and the rallying cause for a nation fighting wars against aggression across two oceans.
Below you will find an video and audio version of the speech delivered by FDR to a joint-session of Congress in which he originally names the four freedoms he believed were the rights of all people in all nations. You will also find additional information about the story behind Rockwell's conception and creation of his series and how the came into being. You will use all of this information to help complete your individual task of updating the four-freedoms as they apply to your thoughts of what freedom should be in the 21st century. Many of the themes may overlap and some of the concepts will be brand new. Do your best to be original and true to your own beliefs and understanding of freedom.
Below you will find an video and audio version of the speech delivered by FDR to a joint-session of Congress in which he originally names the four freedoms he believed were the rights of all people in all nations. You will also find additional information about the story behind Rockwell's conception and creation of his series and how the came into being. You will use all of this information to help complete your individual task of updating the four-freedoms as they apply to your thoughts of what freedom should be in the 21st century. Many of the themes may overlap and some of the concepts will be brand new. Do your best to be original and true to your own beliefs and understanding of freedom.
"Four Freedoms" Speech Delivered to Congress January 6, 1941
Audio Recording of Speech
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Video Recording of Speech
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Click the Image to Find Out More
Other Famous Rockwell Paintings
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"Four Freedoms" Art Analysis
Who was Norman Rockwell? |
Four-Freedoms Monument
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Visit the two sites above and complete the activity below.
Evansville Four Freedoms Monument Activity | |
File Size: | 36 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Four-Freedoms Monument
Across the U.S.A.
Task #1
Download and save the file below. You will use this document to examine each of the paintings by Rockwell. You will need to complete the analysis for each of the paintings. You will also need to identify the ways in which you would "update" the image for our 21st century world.
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Task #2
Download and save the file below. You will use the document to thinking about what the word freedom means to you. You will need to consider the ideas of freedom from something and freedom to do something. You will use this activity to choose the four new freedoms that you are going to create a visual representation of and a written explanation for to demonstrate what freedoms are most important to you in a 21st century world.
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Freedom To:
Freedom From:
Four Freedoms - Medium Choices
Expository/Creative Writing
Creative/Artistic
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Oral/Performance
Technological
Other – with teacher approval |