In 1776 we sought freedom from the tyranny of a political autocracy-from the eighteenth century royalists who held special privileges from the crown. That very word freedom, in itself and of necessity, suggests freedom from some restraining power.
This is fitting ground on which to reaffirm the faith of our fathers to pledge ourselves to restore to the people a wider freedom to give to 1936 as the founders gave to 1776-an American way of life. … Philadelphia is a good city in which to write American history.
In his acceptance speech, Roosevelt laid out his understanding of what “freedom” and “tyranny” meant in an industrial democracy. In July 27, 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt accepted his re-nomination as the Democratic Party’s presidential choice.
Franklin Roosevelt’s Re-Nomination Acceptance Speech (1936)
