The Young Roosevelt
On a sunny day in 1882, a baby named Franklin was born in a big house in Hyde Park, New York. His family was rich and important. They lived in a beautiful home with lots of space to play and learn.
Little Franklin had a happy childhood. He loved to play outside, collect stamps, and sail boats. His parents gave him everything he needed to grow up strong and smart.
“I want to be like my cousin Teddy!” young Franklin would say. His cousin Theodore Roosevelt was the President of the United States, and Franklin looked up to him.
Franklin's mother Sara was very caring but strict. She taught him good manners and how to be brave. His father James taught him to love nature and books.
Every day, Franklin had special teachers come to his house. They taught him about history, math, and science. He was a curious boy who always wanted to learn more.
School Days
When Franklin was 14, he went to a fancy school called Groton. It was different from being at home. Here, he had to:
• Make his own bed
• Play team sports
• Help others in need
• Follow strict rules
• Learn to be a leader
At first, Franklin felt lonely at school. But soon he made friends and became good at sports. He learned that helping others made him happy.
A Big Challenge
Everything changed when Franklin was 39 years old. He got very sick with something called polio. This made his legs very weak. He couldn't walk anymore.
But Franklin didn't give up! He worked very hard to make his body stronger. He learned to swim and exercise in warm water. Even though walking was hard, he found ways to keep moving forward.
Young Franklin learned many things that would help him later in life:
• Being kind to others
• Working hard when things are tough
• Never giving up on your dreams
• Learning from mistakes
• Being brave when scared
Franklin’s early life taught him to be strong and brave. These lessons would help him become one of America’s greatest presidents.
His mother would often say:
"Remember Franklin, you have the Roosevelt name. That means you must always try to help others."
Franklin took these words to heart. He promised himself that no matter what happened, he would work hard to make life better for everyone. Even when his legs wouldn't work, his mind and his heart stayed strong.
As Franklin grew older, he knew he wanted to be like his cousin Teddy and help lead America. His childhood dreams were starting to point toward a bigger future – one that would change the whole country.
Rising Political Star
After college, Franklin knew he wanted to help people. He started working in New York politics. Just like his cousin Teddy, he wanted to make things better for everyone.
During this time, something wonderful happened. Franklin fell in love with Eleanor Roosevelt. She was smart and kind, just like him. Even though they had the same last name, they were distant cousins.
“Eleanor and I want to help make life better for all people,” Franklin would say. They got married and became a great team.
Becoming Governor
Franklin worked very hard. People liked how he listened to their problems and tried to help. In 1928, something amazing happened – he became the Governor of New York!
As Governor, Franklin had to solve big problems:
• Help people who lost their jobs
• Make sure children could go to school
• Keep families safe
• Build better roads and bridges
• Help farmers grow more food
Learning to Lead
Times were tough in New York. Many people didn’t have jobs or enough food to eat. This was called the Great Depression. Franklin worked extra hard to help:
Eleanor helped too! She traveled all around New York, telling Franklin about what people needed. They were like superheroes working together!
Getting Ready for Bigger Things
People all over America started to notice how well Franklin was helping New York. They thought, “Maybe he could help the whole country!”
Even though walking was still hard for Franklin, his mind was strong. He showed everyone that you can do great things even when facing big challenges.
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself,” Franklin would later say. These words helped give people hope.
Franklin and Eleanor worked together to make New York better. They learned important lessons about helping people during hard times. These lessons would help them when even bigger challenges came along.
The whole country was watching as Franklin showed what a good leader could do. He was getting ready for his biggest job yet – but that’s a story for another day!
The New Deal Revolution
The year was 1932, and America needed help. Franklin D. Roosevelt had a big plan! He ran for president against Herbert Hoover. People loved how Franklin talked about hope and better days ahead.
When Franklin became president, many people were sad and scared. They didn’t have jobs or money to buy food. This hard time was called the Great Depression. But Franklin had a special plan to help – he called it the New Deal!
Helping People Find Jobs
Franklin created new ways to help people work again. He made special groups that gave people jobs:
• Building parks and playgrounds
• Making new roads
• Planting trees
• Painting pictures in public places
• Building bridges
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!” Franklin told everyone. These words made people feel brave.
Making Banks Safe
Many banks had closed, and people lost their money. Franklin fixed the banks so people could trust them again. He made new rules to keep money safe.
Help for Farmers
Farmers were having a hard time too. Their crops weren’t selling for enough money. Franklin helped them earn more money for their food.
Eleanor helped too! She traveled around the country and told Franklin what people needed. They were like a superhero team helping America!
Special Programs for Workers
Franklin also helped make rules about:
– How long people could work each day
– How much money they should get paid
– Making sure children didn’t have to work in factories
Talking to the People
Franklin gave special radio talks called “Fireside Chats.” He explained his plans in a way that made everyone feel better. It was like having a friend talk to you about how things would get better.
“We are going to make a country in which no one is left out,” Franklin promised.
Slowly but surely, things started getting better. People found jobs, had money to buy food, and felt hopeful again. Franklin’s New Deal was working!
The country was getting stronger, but new challenges were coming from far away. Franklin would need all his courage and wisdom to face what was ahead.
Preparing for War
While America was getting better after the Great Depression, trouble was brewing across the ocean. Bad people called Nazis were hurting others in Europe. Franklin Roosevelt knew he had to help keep America safe.
Helping Friends Across the Ocean
England was fighting against Nazi Germany. They needed help! Franklin had a clever idea. He started something called “Lend-Lease.” It was like letting a friend borrow your toys when they really need them.
“We must be the great arsenal of democracy,” Franklin told Americans in one of his cozy fireside chats.
America sent lots of things to help England:
• Food for hungry people
• Planes for their pilots
• Ships for their sailors
• Medicine for their doctors
• Tools to build things
Making America Strong
Franklin knew America needed to be ready for anything. He started getting the country prepared:
– More ships
– More planes ✈️
– More soldiers in training
Building New Things
Factories started making new things to keep America safe. Many women went to work in these factories. They were like superheros helping their country!
Eleanor helped too! She visited soldiers and told Franklin what they needed. She was like a special helper making sure everyone was taken care of.
Working Together
Franklin met with leaders from other countries. They talked about how to stop the bad guys and keep peace. ️ He became friends with Winston Churchill, the leader of England.
Teaching About Safety
Franklin gave more fireside chats on the radio. He explained why America needed to be ready:
“We cannot always choose the time when we must be ready for danger. The time is now.”
Americans listened and understood. They started:
– Saving metal and rubber for factories
– Growing victory gardens for food
– Learning new jobs to help the country
A Big Change Coming
Franklin hoped America could stay out of the fighting. But he knew they had to be ready just in case. He was like a wise parent, preparing his family for stormy weather. ⛈️
The whole country was getting stronger and working together. But nobody knew that soon, something would happen that would change everything. America would need Franklin’s brave leadership more than ever before.
Leading Through Dark Times
Everything changed on December 7, 1941. It was a quiet Sunday morning when Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. ♂️ Many American ships and planes were destroyed. It was a very sad day.
Making Tough Choices
Franklin had to be very brave. He worked hard to make good choices to help win the war. He picked smart generals and admirals to lead the army and navy.
“We are going to win this war, and we are going to win the peace that follows,” Franklin told the American people.
Working with Friends
Franklin met with other leaders to make plans. He became good friends with:
• Winston Churchill from England
• Joseph Stalin from Russia
• Chiang Kai-shek from China
They were called “The Allies.” They worked together like a team of superheroes!
Talking to America
He explained what was happening in the war. He told people how they could help:
“Each of you has a part to play in the great struggle. Every American is a partner in the most tremendous undertaking of our history.”
Planning for Victory
Franklin worked day and night to help win the war. He had many important meetings:
– Tehran Conference
– Casablanca Conference
– Yalta Conference
Helping at Home
Everyone in America helped with the war effort:
Children collected metal and rubber for factories. Women worked making planes and ships. Families grew victory gardens to save food for soldiers.
D-Day Decision
One of Franklin’s biggest decisions was about D-Day. This was when American soldiers would help free Europe from the Nazis. It was very dangerous, but Franklin knew it had to be done.
Never Giving Up
Even though Franklin was tired and sick, he never stopped working to win the war. He showed everyone what it means to be brave and strong.
“In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice, the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow man.” ️
The war wasn’t over yet, but thanks to Franklin’s leadership, America and its friends were getting closer to victory. Franklin had one more big dream – to make sure there would be peace after the war ended.
A Dream of Peace
As World War II was coming to an end in 1945, Franklin was very tired. He had worked so hard for so many years to help America and the world. But he still had big dreams for peace.
The Last Journey
In April 1945, Franklin went to rest at a place called Warm Springs, Georgia. He loved this place because the warm water helped his legs feel better. But he was very sick now.
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” Franklin had once said. He lived by these words until the end.
Saying Goodbye
On April 12, 1945, Franklin died while sitting in his favorite chair. People all over the world were very sad. Even people who didn’t know him cried because he had helped so many people.
Things People Remember About Franklin:
• He never gave up, even when he was sick
• He helped America during hard times ️
• He was brave during war ⭐
• He cared about all people
Franklin’s Big Ideas Live On
After Franklin died, his dream of the United Nations came true. Countries still meet there today to solve problems and help each other. ️
Many of the good things Franklin did still help people today:
– Social Security helps older people
– Banks are safer for everyone
– Workers have better rights
– Countries work together for peace
A Hero Forever
Franklin’s face is on the dime coin we use today. His home in New York is a special place people can visit. But the best way we remember Franklin is by helping others, just like he did.
The Story Lives On
Franklin D. Roosevelt showed us that anyone can be brave and strong, even when things are hard. He proved that helping others makes the whole world better. His story teaches us that we should never give up on our dreams.
Every time we help someone else or try to make the world better, we are following in Franklin’s footsteps.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was more than a president – he was a hero who changed America and the world forever. His story reminds us that one person really can make a difference, especially when they care about helping others.