Final answer:
President Roosevelt's characterization of the U.S. as the 'arsenal of democracy' highlighted the nation's support for Allied powers during World War II by supplying military armaments and solidified its commitment to democratic values through industrial might.
Step-by-step explanation:
When President Franklin D. Roosevelt described the United States as the “arsenal of democracy,” he referred to America's role in supporting Allied powers during World War II by providing the necessary military supplies and armaments. The term symbolized the nation's commitment to uphold democratic values by aiding those countries fighting against totalitarian regimes. This effort not only reflected the United States' belief in democracy but also its industrial power, capable of rapidly converting its peacetime economy into a wartime production powerhouse. This transition notably helped to lift the nation out of the Great Depression, as factories typically producing consumer goods shifted to manufacture weapons and vehicles for the war effort. For instance, Ford Motor Company's impressive feat of producing a B-25 bomber every hour emphasized the vast capacity for production that the U.S. had developed. Moreover, by the war's end, the United States produced half of the world's manufactured goods, even though it constituted a mere 5% of the global population. Nonetheless, America's rise as the arsenal of democracy had its complexities, especially when considering racial inequalities and the critical perspectives of women and minorities whose experiences were not always aligned with the democratic ideals championed abroad.