10.+Rationing+System

Alison Shoemaker October 20, 2008  With World War II in the near future, many challenges confronted the American public as the government proclaimed the need to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time (Wars 1). Americans were asked to conserve on everything, and with the entire country affected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all (Wars 1).  Despite management of the economy, a continuous problem during the war was the scarcity of essential raw materials for war such as rubber, gasoline, and oil access to which was cut off in many cases by the enemy (Business 2).  In the spring of 1942, the Food Rationing Program was set into motion (Wars 1). To fill the orders for these materials the government turned to the public, engaging them in the pervasive home-front activity of rationing (Business 2). Households received ration books with coupons to be used for buying such scarce goods including meat, shoes, sugar, coffee, and gasoline (Americans 568). Gas rationing was exceptionally hard on Americans in the west because driving was the only means of transportation (Americans 568). “Eleanor Roosevelt sympathized, “To tell the people in the west not to use their cars,” she observed, “means that these people may never see another soul weeks and weeks nor have a way of getting a sick person to a doctor.” “ (Americans 568). Though rationing had its shortcomings, most Americans accepted rationing as a personal contribution to the war effort; workers carpooled or rode bicycles (Americans 568). Ration stamps became a kind of currency as each family was issued a “War Ration Book”; each stamp authorized the purchase of rationed goods, and the book guaranteed each family with its fair share of goods (Wars 2). Some groups even planed “Victory Gardens” to conserve food, and with a small investment in planting supplies, families could enjoy fresh vegetables for months (Wars 2). Training sessions were even held to teach women to shop sensibly, conserve food while maintaining healthy food plans for their families, and teach them how to can food items (Wars 2). To help families maintain a steady and nutritious diet, the government created a monthly meal planning guide with recipes (Wars 3). However, with many people cooperating with rationing, some people cheated by hoarding goods or by purchasing them on the black market where rationed items could be bought illegally without coupons at inflated prices (Americans 568). While life during the war meant great daily sacrifices for the American public, few complained because they knew it was the men and women in uniform who were making the sacrifice (Wars 2). After three years of rationing, World War II came to an end, but rationing continues until 1946 (Wars 2). Rationing has not been used in America since.  Works Cited "BUSINESS: MOBILIZATION FOR WORLD WAR II." __Novelguide__. 1995. Gale Research Inc.. 20 Oct 2008. . Danzer, Jarold A., J. Jorge Klor de Alva, Larry S. Krieger, Louis E. Wilson, and Nancy Woloch. The Americans. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. "Wars and Battles." __Travel and History__. NWtravel Magazine Online. 20 Oct 2008  "World War II Rationing." __Ames Historical Society__. 15 October 2008. Ames Historical Society. 20 Oct 2008 