WWII: The War at Home

Rationing Rationing-  is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. Rationing controls the size of the ration, one's allotted portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time.

Rationing in the US During the WWII, we couldn't just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted. Even if you had the money. You couldn’t fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply during the war, and rationing was the only way to make sure everyone got their fair share.

Rationed Items Rationing Duration Tires January 1942 to December 1945 Cars February 1942 to October 1945 Bicycles July 1942 to September 1945 Gasoline May 1942 to August 1945 Fuel Oil & Kerosene October 1942 to August 1945  Solid Fuels  September 1943 to August 1945  Stoves December 1942 to August 1945 Rubber Footwear  October 1942 to September 1945 Shoes February 1943 to October 1945 Sugar  May 1942 to 1947  Coffee  November 1942 to July 1943  Processed Foods, Canned Fish  Cheese, Meats Canned Milk, Fats March 1943 to August 1945  Typewriters March 1942 to April 1944

Victory Gardens Nearly 20 million households planted gardens. Some neighborhoods even started cooperatives, each planting one specific crop and pooling the produce for the community. Victory Gardens

Scrap Drives During WWII, Americans got their first taste of recycling. Those who couldn’t fight could do their part to supply the troops with what was needed. Scraps needed for the war effort Iron Tin cans Nylons Paper Rags Silk Cooking fat Rubber Glass Items that were made from Scraps Parachutes Explosives Rags & Mops Tires Metal Items

Children of the War To do their part children across the country would search attics, garages, alleys, basements and vacant lots search for scraps.

War Bonds War Bonds- are loans issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war. Citizens buy a bond and earn a profit after a set period of time. War bonds generate capital for the government and make civilians feel involved in their national militaries

War bonds were the primary source of fund raising for the US government during WWII. These bonds are how we paid for the War and the necessary supplies. By 1945 war bonds had raised a total of $185.7 billion in the United States. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FxzOSwkkPI

Women of WWII

Women at Work In 1941 the US was facing a shortage of workers. Fear that our need for both military and industry would not be met. By 1944 over 6 million women were working in factories, industry and labor. Jobs that included using tools such as welding torches and riveting guns. Many factory owners feared women did not have the stamina necessary.

Pearl Harbor Widows at Work: Two women whose husbands were killed in the Pearl Harbor attack work in a factory in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photo Credit: Library of Congress) Building Bombers: Two women work on a bomber at the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California. (Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

May 15th, 1942 Bill to establish the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. (WAAC) was passed through Congress. For the first time, this bill allowed women to volunteer to serve in non-combat positions.

Members of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) pose at Camp Shanks, New York, before leaving from New York Port of Embarkation on Feb. 2, 1945. The women are with the first contingent of Black American WACs to go overseas for the war effort From left to right are, kneeling: Pvt. Rose Stone; Pvt. Virginia Blake; and Pfc. Marie B. Gillisspie. Second row: Pvt. Genevieve Marshall; T/5 Fanny L. Talbert; and Cpl. Callie K. Smith. Third row: Pvt. Gladys Schuster Carter; T/4 Evelyn C. Martin; and Pfc. Theodora Palmer. Specially chosen airwomen are being trained for police duties in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). They have to be quick-witted, intelligent and observant woman of the world - They attend an intensive course at the highly sufficient RAF police school - where their training runs parallel with that of the men. Keeping a man "in his place" - A WAAF member demonstrates self-defense on January 15, 1942.

“When this project [women in the military] was proposed…like most old soldiers, I was violently against it…Every phase of the record they compiled during the war convinced me of the error of my first reaction.” Dwight D. Eisenhower Women in the Military Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) – Navy Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) – Air Force Women Air-Force Service Pilots (WASP) – Air Force Semper Paratus and its English translation, Always Ready (SPAR) – Coast Guard