The Great Depression was a time of great need and hardship for American citizens throughout the United States. America was in great need of a leader, someone who could facilitate this terrible process, and Franklin Roosevelt rose to the occasion. During Roosevelt's first inaugural address in 1933 and his 1944 State of the Union address, Roosevelt emerged as the great American leader everyone desperately needed. It would take the blame away from the American people and provide them with goals and a very achievable image of America in the near future. In his 1933 inaugural address, Roosevelt set out to encourage Americans as they faced many great challenges during the Great Patriotic War. Depression. Roosevelt, as well as all Americans, knew they were in a fight, but Roosevelt prevented their morale from deteriorating further. Roosevelt states “let me state my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…” (Roosevelt 1933) and assures citizens “Yet our distress does not arise from the failure of substances” (Roosevelt 1933). Roosevelt never blamed the American people for the Depression and did not want American citizens to blame themselves for what had happened. He also encouraged Americans to keep their heads high and not fear the outcome of the situation. Roosevelt truly emerged as a leader during his 1933 speech. He took it upon himself to get America back on its feet. Roosevelt said, “Happiness does not lie in the mere possession of money; lies in the joy of success. In the excitement of creative endeavors” (Roosevelt 1933). In this particular quote from his speech, Roosevelt gives hope to Americans by telling them that they can still be happy and that when they overcome this great task, it will bring the... middle of paper... ay not fully understanding the purpose and hidden motive to do it. While some individuals may not have fully agreed at first, I believe that the longer Roosevelt spoke and reassured Americans of their security and positive post-war outcomes, their questions were answered and Roosevelt became accepted as a leader and his ideas. I believe that Roosevelt showed great leadership and comforted many fearful Americans in both his first inaugural address in 1933 and his 1944 State of the Union address. Although both speeches were successful, I believe his first inaugural address in 1933 is was the better of the two. In this speech, Roosevelt not only took the blame away from the American people, but comforted them, provided specific information about what the United States needed to make successful change, and most importantly, took control and leadership over America.,