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Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a prominent president who was reelected for a third and fourth term. His 3rd and 4th term was dominated by the Second World War. FDR has been known for his many policies concerning social areas, as well as foreign and militaristic during his 3rd and 4th term. President Roosevelt primarily had in mind protecting the welfare of the public, however many of actions were not ethically correct. Although many of FDR’s policies can be considered tactfully intelligent, they were not always morally justifiable. The public’s welfare had been protected through many militaristic policies which were created during his presidency. For example, in 1940, the Selective Training and Service Act which has also been known as the Burke-Wadsworth Bill was a peacetime program of compulsory military service in the United States. This act provided for the legislation of all men between the ages of 21 and 35, for one year of training. The first registration which occurred on October 16 resulted in the listing of over 16,400,000 men. This act was created for the protection of the welfare, and a position taken by FDR for preparedness. Through this peacetime draft, Roosevelt created a sense of “preparedness”.1 In addition, this program led to the creation of an army that would be equipped to fight if the time came for the United States to enter the war. Also, Roosevelt created a shoot-on-sight policy. This policy was enacted when a German U-boat attacked the U.S. Destroyer Greer. When this news reached Roosevelt, he told the country over his fireside chats that a shoot-on-policy would be declared due to this attack created by the Germans. The Americans no longer felt that they were neutral.2 This in turn led to eliminating the Act of Neutrality of 1939. As a result of removing the neutrality act, merchant ships could be legally armed, and could enter the combat areas with munitions for Britain.3 This act protected the United States from German attacks.
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