Excerpt from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s "The Great Arsenal of Democracy" Speech (1940)
We must be the great arsenal of democracy. For us this is an emergency as serious as war itself. We must apply ourselves to our task with the same resolution, the same sense of urgency, the same spirit of patriotism and sacrifice as we would show were we at war.
We have furnished the British great material support and we will furnish far more in the future.
There will be no "bottlenecks" in our determination to aid Great Britain. No dictator, no combination of dictators, will weaken that determination by threats of how they will construe that determination.
The British have received invaluable military support from the heroic Greek army, and from the forces of all the governments in exile. Their strength is growing. It is the strength of men and women who value their freedom more highly than they value their lives.
I believe that the Axis powers are not going to win this war. I base that belief on the latest and best information.
I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
can you give me a summary of the excerpt
Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his speech "The Great Arsenal of Democracy," calls for the United States to become a strong supporter of Great Britain in their fight against the Axis powers during World War II. He urges Americans to approach this task with the same urgency and dedication they would if they were physically at war themselves. He promises unwavering support to Britain and dismisses the threats made by dictators. Roosevelt expresses confidence in the eventual victory of the Allies and emphasizes that freedom is worth fighting for. The speech ends with a call to action for both Americans and citizens of the world to work together to achieve a common goal.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
Which of the following statements best describes the context of the speech?
A.
The United States had not yet become involved in World War II but was willing to sell armaments to Allied forces.
B.
The United States had been involved in World War II for more than a year and needed to increase armament production.
C.
The United States had been involved in World War II for several months and wanted to supply its military with greater weapons.
D.
The United States had just become directly involved in World War II but had already begun mobilization to help Allied forces.