A Timeline of Human Rights
(Under Construction)
January 11,
1944
Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights
Delivered during his 11th State of the Union address, Roosevelt’s proposal argued that American and even global security depended on the country’s fully embracing social and economic rights.
An excellent recent treatment of the Second Bill of Rights is Cass Sunstein’s The Second Bill of Rights: FDR’s Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More Than Ever
Sunstein compacted his argument for an article in the American Prospect.
From the full speech, found online.
In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, race, or creed.Among these are:
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the Nation;
The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
The right of every family to a decent home;
The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
The right to a good education.
All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.
America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.