Roosevelt's Factory Vision

Roosevelt called America the "Arsenal of Democracy" in a 1940 radio address, before the U.S. even entered the war. His vision: turn Detroit's car factories into tank factories and convert appliance makers into ammunition plants. Within two years, he made it real.

Most conversions took only months. Ford's Willow Run plant built a B-24 bomber every hour at its peak. Women entered manufacturing in unprecedented numbers — Rosie the Riveter was no propaganda myth. By 1945, women made up 36% of the U.S. workforce.