Ration for The War Effort
Help out our Soldiers on the Battlefront
War Controls the Economy
When the continental United States heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, almost instantaneously, people wanted to join the war. In a few days most men had joined up for the U.S. Army, Navy, or Air-force and the economy had shifted to war production. Everyone joined the war effort in some way shape or form, but none realized the effects on their own lives. Food and other everyday needs began to decline in consumer production, for everything was going toward the war.
Ration Books
Ration books were issued to each american family or household dictating how much of each specific item was allowed. Food, gasoline, rubber, and all sorts of items were rationed for the war effort.
What was Rationed
All sorts of items were rationed. Rubber was the first for the Japanese had taken control of America's rubber plantations in the Pacific. Sugar and coffee were rationed as well as gasoline. Soon the government was calling on citizens to recycle all scrap materials and to have competitions on who could collect the most.
Victory Gardens
Because rationing had limited America's food supply, government officials encouraged the creation of "Victory Gardens". 20 million american's did so and created their own small gardens of fruits and vegetable in their backyards, schools, or churches. All of this patriotism was for the war effort and the soldiers overseas. At the end of the war however, the public stopped planting and because of the Dust Bowl, fresh produce was not in stores. This caused food shortages even after food rations had ended.
War Bonds
Everywhere you'd look there'd be a poster about buying war bonds. These were notes that you could purchase from $18.75 to $50 and then after the war, the government would pay you back with a little more. It was an investment you could make that would finance military operations. Around a quarter billion was spent by the government advertising these bonds and over the course of the war, 85 million Americans bought some, contributing to $185 billion dollars for the war.
The Propaganda
Not everyone jumped to the idea of less resources, so the government used commercials, ads, and posters to make sure everyone participated.
Guilt on Women
Guilt was a popular theme for many women left at home felt as if they were not doing their best. Posters of hungry and angry soldiers were put up to encourage rationing. As well as telling women not to use as much food they directed women to industrial jobs, helping out in factories.
Gasoline Posters
Also gasoline posters were put, telling the public of the soldiers need to move was more important than their own. Was your trip to the supermarket a mile away as important as moving troops to fight the Germans? It wasn't and the government made sure everyone knew.
Preserve the Clothes
During the war, Almost all of the commercial clothes companies in America produced for the war. The raw materials were needed for uniforms and supplies. The government themselves produced posters and ads, telling housewives to mend and fix torn clothing instead of buying from stores. Women were normally the part of the family that did the washing and caring for clothes and so they were targeted during this campaign of propaganda.
Effect on Civilians
The war was a very sentimental thing for most people. There had been an attack on American soil killing hundreds, and then families had to send their brothers and fathers off to war. They then had to live with less food and supplies for years. The American public was extremely jubilant at the end of the war, for they had to wait until the Japanese surrendered not just Germany and Italy. Food rations went unnoticed for the night because of the success, and the end. However, food rations continued until 1946 and life returned to normal as prices for sugar, meat, and butter rose.