Changes

But the situation was rapidly deteriorating in Europe in 1940, as World War II broke out there.  President Roosevelt began to prepare a reluctant nation for war.  He signed into law the Selective Training & Service Act, which was the first adoption of peacetime conscription (the "draft").  Previously the only initiations of the draft were during an ongoing American war, as in the Civil War and World War I.

But the situation was rapidly deteriorating in Europe in 1940, as World War II broke out there.  President Roosevelt began to prepare a reluctant nation for war.  He signed into law the Selective Training & Service Act, which was the first adoption of peacetime conscription (the "draft").  Previously the only initiations of the draft were during an ongoing American war, as in the Civil War and World War I.

FDR had served two full terms by 1940, and every president before him (beginning with George Washington) voluntarily retired.  But FDR refused to step down, and ran again for an unprecedented third term.  With the support of the media, he won again.  Later, in 1944, despite having a terminal illness, FDR ran and won a fourth term and then died shortly after inauguration.

FDR had served two full terms by 1940, and every president before him (beginning with George Washington) voluntarily retired.  But FDR refused to step down, and ran again for an unprecedented third term.  With the support of the media, he won again.  Later, in 1944, despite having a terminal illness (people are unsure today what the sickness was, but it was probably the dangerous skin cancer melanoma), FDR ran and won a fourth term but then died shortly after inauguration.

In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his annual speech to Congress in which he advocated the "Four Freedoms": freedom of speech, worship, from want (e.g., from hunger), and from fear.  But FDR privately wanted the United States to enter into World War II to protect Britain against Germany.  Britain had been badly weakened by decades of socialism, declining values, and rising atheism along with belief in evolution.  Britain, weakened by decades of economic socialism and declining Christianity, was no match for the larger and much stronger Germany, and Britain needed America to save it.  At one point in late 1941 Churchill even stayed for several weeks at the White House while Britain was being bombed by Germany.

In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his annual speech to Congress in which he advocated the "Four Freedoms": freedom of speech, worship, from want (e.g., from hunger), and from fear.  But FDR privately wanted the United States to enter into World War II to protect Britain against Germany.  Britain had been badly weakened by decades of socialism, declining values, and rising atheism along with belief in evolution.  Britain, weakened by decades of economic socialism and declining Christianity, was no match for the larger and much stronger Germany, and Britain needed America to save it.  At one point in late 1941 Churchill even stayed for several weeks at the White House while Britain was being bombed by Germany.