Role Of Industrialization In Philadelphia
An examination of Philadelphia during the World War II years (1939-1945) reveals that the city of brotherly love even though still deeply divided racially, socially, and politically could come together as a united front to help support war efforts during World War II.
Prior to World War II, Philadelphia was a thriving city looking to validate its economic importance in America. Industrialization had transformed the city’s ecological environment as well as the city’s economic and social outlook. Promise of decent wages had immigrants as well as African Americans flocking to Philadelphia to find work. However, race would play a major role whether one could actually earn a decent living in Philadelphia, for the city was deeply divided.
The City of Brotherly Love, known for its economic development in the 1920’s and an active working class was also a city where some of its citizens struggled for racial equality.
By the time WWII began in 1941, Philadelphia was considered a modern city. With approximately 1.9+ million people living within the city limits, the city albeit still socially divided, was able to significantly contribute to the war efforts by producing a variety of goods. Military supplies including clothing, ammunition, food, guns, and helmets as well as machinery, like steam engines and war ships were all being massed produced in Philadelphia workshops. In addition, technology was playing a meaningful role in war efforts. In 1943, the University of Pennsylvania had developed the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), the first programmable electronic digital computer to calculate ballistic tables for the U.S. Army.
Since Philadelphia was considered one the most populated cities of that time (trailing behind only New York and Chicago), the city was able to offer one of its most significant resources, its citizens. Men, women, and children came together during this time and participated in war efforts. Men enlisted as soldiers, while women worked in jobs that were normally held by men who were now away fighting the war. Children also played a vital role in war efforts. The recycling of tin cans, pennies, aluminum foil, bottle caps, old pots and old toys were all collected and were used to build ships, tanks and weapons.
With one billion dollars of war contracts flowing throughout the city, a strong sense of patriotist, and participation from every abled man, women and child. Philadelphia became known as the “Arsenal of Democracy” and eventually played a vital role in the outcome of WWII.
Prior to World War II, Philadelphia was a thriving city looking to validate its economic importance in America. Industrialization had transformed the city’s ecological environment as well as the city’s economic and social outlook. Promise of decent wages had immigrants as well as African Americans flocking to Philadelphia to find work. However, race would play a major role whether one could actually earn a decent living in Philadelphia, for the city was deeply divided.
The City of Brotherly Love, known for its economic development in the 1920’s and an active working class was also a city where some of its citizens struggled for racial equality.
By the time WWII began in 1941, Philadelphia was considered a modern city. With approximately 1.9+ million people living within the city limits, the city albeit still socially divided, was able to significantly contribute to the war efforts by producing a variety of goods. Military supplies including clothing, ammunition, food, guns, and helmets as well as machinery, like steam engines and war ships were all being massed produced in Philadelphia workshops. In addition, technology was playing a meaningful role in war efforts. In 1943, the University of Pennsylvania had developed the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), the first programmable electronic digital computer to calculate ballistic tables for the U.S. Army.
Since Philadelphia was considered one the most populated cities of that time (trailing behind only New York and Chicago), the city was able to offer one of its most significant resources, its citizens. Men, women, and children came together during this time and participated in war efforts. Men enlisted as soldiers, while women worked in jobs that were normally held by men who were now away fighting the war. Children also played a vital role in war efforts. The recycling of tin cans, pennies, aluminum foil, bottle caps, old pots and old toys were all collected and were used to build ships, tanks and weapons.
With one billion dollars of war contracts flowing throughout the city, a strong sense of patriotist, and participation from every abled man, women and child. Philadelphia became known as the “Arsenal of Democracy” and eventually played a vital role in the outcome of WWII.