Which of these passages from FDR’s first inaugural address best reflects his overall purpose?
A. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.
B. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied
C. Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money.
D. Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A: “This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.”
Explanation:
Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933, during the Great Depression, a time of extreme economic hardship for the United States. The overall purpose of his speech was to reassure the American public and provide a sense of hope and confidence in the face of widespread despair. Roosevelt aimed to convey that, despite the severe challenges the nation was facing, the American spirit and resilience would overcome these hardships.
Passage A clearly reflects this central theme of perseverance and hope. Roosevelt is assuring the nation that, despite the economic crisis, the United States will not only survive but will also recover and thrive again. His emphasis on endurance and prosperity speaks directly to the need for optimism and collective strength. By stating that the nation “will endure as it has endured” and will “revive and prosper,” Roosevelt is reinforcing the idea that America has faced difficult times before and has emerged stronger, thus encouraging the public to believe in the future.
The other passages, while they touch on aspects of the crisis, do not encapsulate the speech’s overall purpose as effectively as Passage A:
- Passage B: “Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied.” While this reflects some optimism, it is more about the potential for recovery and doesn’t directly convey the message of perseverance and national strength.
- Passage C: “Faced by failure of credit they have proposed only the lending of more money.” This passage critiques a specific policy approach, but it doesn’t reflect the overarching message of hope and national renewal.
- Passage D: “Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the …,” though this is a philosophical point about values, it doesn’t fully capture the main purpose of Roosevelt’s address, which was to rally the nation’s spirits and instill confidence.
In summary, Passage A best reflects FDR’s purpose of inspiring confidence in the American public and assuring them that, through resilience and collective effort, the nation would recover and prosper.