Eleanor Roosevelt
Young Eleanor
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 11, 1884. She grew up in a wealthy family. She always felt very awkward and shy. By the time she was 10, both of her parents had died, so her grandmother raised her brother and her. Even though her family was wealthy, she grew up helping others. She was sent to Allenswood School in England when she was 15. While she studied there, she gained self confidence and realized that her mission in life was to help others. She worked throughout her life to bring peace, education, and freedom to people around the world.
When she was 18, her grandmother wanted her to return to America. Eleanor showed that she respected and accepted her grandmother's authority by doing what she asked. She returned to New York City and met other young people from wealthy families. While she was there, she looked for ways to help people. At the time, there were many immigrants from other countries who came to America to find jobs and freedom. They did not have a lot of money and lived in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Eleanor helped them by teaching them to read.
Helping Others
In 1902, Eleanor met a distant cousin named Franklin Roosevelt. They married in 1905. They had six children. Eleanor worked for women's rights. She worked to make sure that women in the United States knew about issues that were important to voters. She worked to get women the right to vote. In 1921, Franklin became ill with a serious disease called polio. Eleanor helped him keep his dream of being in American politics alive. She wanted people to remember Franklin and his ideas. So she gave radio speeches,went to parties and meetings where she could meet people, and wrote magazine articles. She talked about Franklin and her own ideas, too. In 1925, she had a house built in New York that she called Val-Kill House. In the house, she and some friends started a furniture-making business which gave jobs to people who lived nearby.
The White House
In 1933, Franklin became President of the United States. That meant that Eleanor was now the "First Lady". At the time he became President, many people in the United States were hungry, homeless, and did not have a job. During this time, Franklin told the people of the United States that he promised to give them a "New Deal". Eleanor wondered how she could help this "New Deal" work for the people. She became known for her tolerance and caring during this time. Since it was hard for Franklin to travel, Eleanor traveled all over the United States for him, visiting with the people, trying to see how she could help them. She would tell Franklin what she saw and heard from the people of the United States. People called her the President's "eyes and ears". Another way Eleanor helped was by having weekly meetings in the White House with news reporters - only women reporters. Se also wrote a newspaper article everyday called "My Day". This daily article helped people feel like they knew the First Lady as a friend by reading about what she did everyday and what she was thinking about. In 1941, the United States went into a war called World War II. Eleanor traveled all over the world, meeting with soldiers and their families. She also met with world leaders trying to make peace.
Human Rights Champion
Franklin died in 1945. He and Eleanor had been President and First Lady for twelve years. This was longer than anyone else. After Franklin died, Eleanor kept working for peace. One of her most important contributions was helping to start an organization to keep peace among all the nations. They called this organization the United Nations, or UN. Eleanor was the United States representative. While she worked there, she led people from many countries to write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In doing this, she showed tolerance as she respected the beliefs and practices of others. Her cheerful attitude and cooperation kept the people working on this project until it was completed. This document lists many important rights for all people. The United Nations today works for world peace, helps people in trouble, and works for a better education for all people.
Eleanor's Work Lives On
Eleanor always stood up for what she believed in. She fought for rights for people. She worked for world peace. She made sure that all people were treated fairly.
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was born in New York City on October 11, 1884. She grew up in a wealthy family. She always felt very awkward and shy. By the time she was 10, both of her parents had died, so her grandmother raised her brother and her. Even though her family was wealthy, she grew up helping others. She was sent to Allenswood School in England when she was 15. While she studied there, she gained self confidence and realized that her mission in life was to help others. She worked throughout her life to bring peace, education, and freedom to people around the world.
When she was 18, her grandmother wanted her to return to America. Eleanor showed that she respected and accepted her grandmother's authority by doing what she asked. She returned to New York City and met other young people from wealthy families. While she was there, she looked for ways to help people. At the time, there were many immigrants from other countries who came to America to find jobs and freedom. They did not have a lot of money and lived in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Eleanor helped them by teaching them to read.
Helping Others
In 1902, Eleanor met a distant cousin named Franklin Roosevelt. They married in 1905. They had six children. Eleanor worked for women's rights. She worked to make sure that women in the United States knew about issues that were important to voters. She worked to get women the right to vote. In 1921, Franklin became ill with a serious disease called polio. Eleanor helped him keep his dream of being in American politics alive. She wanted people to remember Franklin and his ideas. So she gave radio speeches,went to parties and meetings where she could meet people, and wrote magazine articles. She talked about Franklin and her own ideas, too. In 1925, she had a house built in New York that she called Val-Kill House. In the house, she and some friends started a furniture-making business which gave jobs to people who lived nearby.
The White House
In 1933, Franklin became President of the United States. That meant that Eleanor was now the "First Lady". At the time he became President, many people in the United States were hungry, homeless, and did not have a job. During this time, Franklin told the people of the United States that he promised to give them a "New Deal". Eleanor wondered how she could help this "New Deal" work for the people. She became known for her tolerance and caring during this time. Since it was hard for Franklin to travel, Eleanor traveled all over the United States for him, visiting with the people, trying to see how she could help them. She would tell Franklin what she saw and heard from the people of the United States. People called her the President's "eyes and ears". Another way Eleanor helped was by having weekly meetings in the White House with news reporters - only women reporters. Se also wrote a newspaper article everyday called "My Day". This daily article helped people feel like they knew the First Lady as a friend by reading about what she did everyday and what she was thinking about. In 1941, the United States went into a war called World War II. Eleanor traveled all over the world, meeting with soldiers and their families. She also met with world leaders trying to make peace.
Human Rights Champion
Franklin died in 1945. He and Eleanor had been President and First Lady for twelve years. This was longer than anyone else. After Franklin died, Eleanor kept working for peace. One of her most important contributions was helping to start an organization to keep peace among all the nations. They called this organization the United Nations, or UN. Eleanor was the United States representative. While she worked there, she led people from many countries to write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In doing this, she showed tolerance as she respected the beliefs and practices of others. Her cheerful attitude and cooperation kept the people working on this project until it was completed. This document lists many important rights for all people. The United Nations today works for world peace, helps people in trouble, and works for a better education for all people.
Eleanor's Work Lives On
Eleanor always stood up for what she believed in. She fought for rights for people. She worked for world peace. She made sure that all people were treated fairly.