Editing World War I Impact (section)

== Arsenal of Democracy ==

Philadelphia's diverse industrial base made it ideally suited for war production. The city's manufacturing economy, built during the [[Industrial Revolution in Philadelphia]], could produce nearly anything the military required. The Philadelphia Navy Yard, already a major facility, expanded dramatically to build destroyers, submarines, and other vessels. The Emergency Fleet Corporation established the Hog Island shipyard, which at its peak employed over 30,000 workers and launched 122 ships—though most were completed after the war ended. The Cramp Shipyard built warships and merchant vessels. Together, Philadelphia's shipyards made the city one of the most important naval construction centers in the country.<ref name="speakman">{{cite journal |last=Speakman |first=Joseph M. |title=Philadelphia and the Great War |journal=Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography |volume=143 |issue=2 |year=2019 |pages=123-156}}</ref>

Beyond shipbuilding, Philadelphia factories contributed to virtually every aspect of war production. The Frankford Arsenal, a federal facility in Northeast Philadelphia, manufactured small arms ammunition and artillery shells. The Midvale Steel Company produced gun forgings for the Navy. Textile mills in [[Kensington]] turned out uniforms, blankets, and other equipment. The Baldwin Locomotive Works built locomotives for military use, while other manufacturers produced everything from boots to bandages. The city's economy boomed with wartime orders, drawing workers from across the country and creating prosperity that, while uneven, touched many Philadelphians.<ref name="weigley"/>