INTRODUCTION
The wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt changed the role of the first lady through her active participation in American politics. Before she got there, she had to go through many challenges.
EARLY YEARS
From birth to Age 15
Eleanor Roosevelt was born on October 11, 1884. She came from a very wealthy family. At the beginning everything was going well even though her mom, Anna was hoping to have a boy. Eleanor’s father, Elliott, started drinking and wasn’t present as much but he remained very important to Eleanor. In the summer of 1888, Elliott was mostly sober and Eleanor had a baby brother named Elliott jr. While the family was in France, Anna had another baby boy named Grace Hall, in 1891. Anna and the children left Elliott and left for New York. Eleanor was very shy and didn’t have a good relationship with her mom. Eleanor lost her mom when she was eight and went to live with her grandmother who was very strict. Ellie, her brother, died of scarlet fever in 1893, and her dad passed away in 1894. Eleanor with her little brother, Grace, was an orphan. Some of the skills she continued to learn was french, music, and dance. Later on, she met her fifth cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
From age fifteen to nineteen
In 1889, Eleanor sailed to England to go to Allenswood, a finishing school. She was a hard working student but she was very shy and lost at the beginning but ended up thriving there. She met Mlle Souvestre who had a big impact on Eleanor’s education. “One of the most momentous things” (28) She eventually went back to New York. She saw Franklin Roosevelt again. Franklin invited her to many events. They became very close. In October of that year, Franklin proposed. He was twenty one and Eleanor was nineteen. However, Franklin’s mom, Sara, asked them to keep their marriage hidden for a year and if they still felt the same way about each other, then they could announce it. In March, 1905, they both attended the inauguration of her uncle who became president. Franklin was into politics but Eleanor was not.
From age 19 to age 30
Eleanor and Franklin got married on March 17, 1905. She was pregnant when they got back from their honeymoon. She settled in New York and got along well with Sara. Eleanor gave birth to a daughter on May 3, 1906 named Anna. “ I knew absolutely nothing about handling or feeding a baby” (39). Eleanor had a baby boy on December 23, 1907. They moved into a bigger house that Sara bought. Eleanor felt that Sara was controlling their household and was not very happy. She gave birth to another baby boy named James who sadly died at nine months. On September 23, 1910 she gave birth to another baby boy named Little Elliott. Two weeks later, Franklin was nominated for state senate. Eleanor had another boy name Franklin Jr. on August 17, 1914. At that time, Eleanor and Franklin began to be politically active. When the world war I started, Franklin was always busy with the navy. Eleanor found out Franklin was having an affair with Lucy Mercer but Franklin promised her he would not see her again. Eleanor’s uncle and grandmother passed away in 1919. In 1920, Franklin ran for the vice presidency. On August 26 for the first time, women could vote in a national election so Franklin asked Eleanor if she could come with him on a campaign trip. Eventually they lost the election but they got more well known. Back to New York, Franklin hired a new secretary named Missy. Eleanor had five children but they were mostly taken care of by nannies. Eleanor started to be more involved in organizations like the league of Women Voters. She met two good friends, Elizabeth Read, a lawyer. “ She gave me a sense of confidence.” (53) and Esther Lape, a professor. Eleanor really enjoyed hanging out with a different crowd. Franklin had an illness called polio. It was temporary but his legs will never be the same. Eleanor motivated Franklin to not give up on his political path but it took a lot of time and effort. In 1924, Eleanor and Franklin attended the Democratic National Convention.
From age 30 to 44
Eleanor and Franklin moved to Albany in September, 1928. Franklin became governor so they moved to the governor house. Eleanor was a school teacher, she traveled from Albany to New York. Eleanor also continued doing inspections. Eleanor didn’t like being taken cared of by other people. She was very independent. Eleanor got a bodyguard who became a very good friend of her. On October 1929, the economy crashed, causing the great depression. In 1932, Franklin was nominated for president. Eleanor wasn’t fond of the idea because she thought if he became president, it would affect her life. On March 4, 1963, Franklin was officially becoming president. “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” (68) With the help of Eleanor, Franklin got reelected.
From age 30 to 44
Eleanor and Franklin moved to Albany in September, 1928. Franklin became governor so they moved to the governor house. Eleanor was a school teacher, she traveled from Albany to New York. Eleanor was also continued doing inspections. Eleanor didn’t like being taken cared of by other people. She was very independent. Eleanor got a bodyguard who became a very good friend of her. On October 1929, the economy crashed, causing the great depression. In 1932, Franklin was nominated for president. Eleanor wasn’t fond of the idea because she thought if he became president, it would affect her life. On March 4, 1963, Franklin was officially becoming president. “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” (68) With the help of Eleanor, Franklin got reelected.
From age 30 to 44
Eleanor and Franklin moved to Albany in September, 1928. Franklin became governor so they moved to the governor house. Eleanor was a school teacher, she traveled from Albany to New York. Eleanor was also continued doing inspections. Eleanor didn’t like being taken cared of by other people. She was very independent. but had a bodyguard who became a very good friend with her. On October 1929, the economy crashed, causing the great depression. In 1932, Franklin was nominated for president. Eleanor wasn’t fond of the idea because she thought if he became president, it would affect her life. On March 4, 1963, Franklin was officially becoming president. “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” (68) With the help of Eleanor, Franklin got reelected.
After Franklin’s death
Eleanor moved to an apartment in New York with her secretary. World War II ended in europe on May 8, 1945. Truman asked Eleanor to travel to London to work on the United Nation, which was Roosevelt Dream, and the Committee Three to help refugees. After the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was accepted, she continued to travel everywhere on behalf of the United Nation. At her seventieth birthday party, she said “I would like to see us take hold of ourselves look at ourselves and cease being afraid. She had nineteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren. On November 7, 1962, Eleanor died and was buried next to Franklin.
MAIN ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- In fall, 1903 she joined the Consumer Leagues an association that helps poor working people. She investigated children who were working hard. When world war I started, Eleanor volunteered at the Red Cross canteen.
- When the war ended, Eleanor did not like the conditions of the hospitals where war soldiers were staying. She went to congress asking for some money to help the hospital improve. Eleanor helped people with different colored skin have job opportunities.
- In 1927, Eleanor and two democrat friends bought a school where they tough history, literature, and current events.
- In May 1927, she wrote an article called “What I Want Most Out of Life” for a magazine called success. She encouraged women to enter politics for “the opportunity for doing something useful” (59)
- During Franklin’s campaign for presidency, Eleanor organized the Democratic Party’s women. This made women really count in politics. Eleanor held the first press conference ever.
- In November, 1993, Eleanor published a book called It’s up to women and then more books
- Eleanor hosted her own radio show.
- Eleanor investigated factories in Puerto Rico.
- Everybody was very fond of Eleanor. In 1946, she was given a very powerful role in the Human Rights Commission.
- One of her biggest accomplishment was in December 1948, when the United Nations accepted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- Eleanor wrote two other books: "On My Own" and, "Learned By Living."
GOALS
Her goals was to help others, the poor people, the soldiers, the women and the workers in factories. She wanted to have a big impact on people all over the world.
INFLUENCE
Eleanor had a very big influence on Her husband so he didn’t give up after his accident, she had also a big influence on women all over the world and on how all the human are protected in the world.
OPINION
Eleanor was a democrat and wanted to fight for more protection and for race equality. She had a strong opinion about all this and never gave up. She was ready to work and study hard all the time. She supported the women's right to vote.
CONCLUSION
Eleanor Roosevelt was an amazing woman who had to go through a lot. She never gave up, she worked really hard. Even if she was born in a very wealthy family, she never stopped fighting for poor people and equal rights. She did many things in her life. Her biggest achievement was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even if she did all this, she said “More than any achievement, I treasure the love of my children.” (99) Eleanor was America’s most admired woman but was very humble.
Bio Poem
Eleanor
Brave, fair, for equality, confident
Wife of Franklin Roosevelt, mother of his children
Who loved all children and equality
Who disliked racism and discrimination, who loved helping people
Who feared war and death
Who wrote books about equality, helped kids get better education
Who wanted to see well educated kids and equality for all
Born in New York City and living in Washington D.C.
Roosevelt
Bibliography
www.quietrev.com/eleanor-roosevelt/.