When FDR proposed this huge shift in U.S. manufacturing in "The Arsenal of Democracy," he was hopeful it would accomplish a couple different things. First, it would get the Allies the weapons they needed without U.S. troops joining the fight. Second, it would create lots of new jobs for men still unable to find work.
Industry became synonymous with power for the United States, and when it all kind of came to a shocking halt in the 1930's, it was a bit of a blow to the country's ego. But when things started heating up in Europe, FDR saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, and solve a couple of different problems all at once.
And it worked—the Allies had the supplies they needed, and by the time the war ended, the U.S. economy was in a surplus.
Good job, FDR. Ten points to Gryffindor!
Questions About Power of Industry
- Why does FDR choose to discuss the banking crisis early in his speech? Why is it relevant to emphasizing the power of U.S. industry?
- FDR doesn't mention the United States producing the "implements of war" until sentence 119. Why did he wait so long to tell the American people what he needed from them?
- In sentence 156, FDR says, "Manufacturers of watches, of farm implements, of Linotypes and cash registers and automobiles, and sewing machines and lawn mowers and locomotives, are now making fuses and bomb packing crates and telescope mounts and shells and pistols and tanks." How do you think people reacted to munitions production replacing luxury goods?
- How did FDR's plan to make America "the great arsenal of democracy" lead to changes in the workforce?
Chew on This
If the United States hadn't dedicated all their manufacturing capabilities to producing munitions and other supplies, the Allies couldn't have won World War II.
The Axis powers were eager to keep the United States out of the war because of all the resources and industries the Americans had access to.