Rationing

What was rationing? Rationing was a system that provided everyone with the same amount of scarce goods. Rationing was a system that provided everyone with the same amount of scarce goods. The system was designed to keep prices low and to make sure people had what they needed. The system was designed to keep prices low and to make sure people had what they needed.

What was rationed? Some things were scarce because they were needed to supply the military – gas, oil, metal, meat and other foods Some things were scarce because they were needed to supply the military – gas, oil, metal, meat and other foods Some things were scarce because they normally were imported from countries with whom we were at war Some things were scarce because they normally were imported from countries with whom we were at war Some things were scarce because they had to be brought in by ship from foreign places Some things were scarce because they had to be brought in by ship from foreign places

Was it welcomed? Rationing made sure no one went hungry Rationing made sure no one went hungry Everyone was given a ration book and each book had a bunch of ration stamps in it Everyone was given a ration book and each book had a bunch of ration stamps in it Grocers and other business people would post what your ration stamps could buy that week – it was up to you to decide how to spend your stamps Grocers and other business people would post what your ration stamps could buy that week – it was up to you to decide how to spend your stamps

Ration books were about the size of a postcard Ration books were about the size of a postcard Each one was filled with ration stamps Each one was filled with ration stamps You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store It still cost money, but you couldn’t buy it unless you had stamps It still cost money, but you couldn’t buy it unless you had stamps

Victory Gardens

What is a victory garden? People were encouraged by the government to plant Victory Gardens and grow their own vegetables to supplement the foods they could buy with their ration stamps People were encouraged by the government to plant Victory Gardens and grow their own vegetables to supplement the foods they could buy with their ration stamps Victory gardens were planted at the zoos, race tracks, at Ellis Island and Alcatraz, at playgrounds, in school yards, in backyards, at the library, in grassy bits in parking lots emptied by gas rationing – absolutely everywhere! Victory gardens were planted at the zoos, race tracks, at Ellis Island and Alcatraz, at playgrounds, in school yards, in backyards, at the library, in grassy bits in parking lots emptied by gas rationing – absolutely everywhere!

Personal account by Patricia Thomas Faust “I would go to the store with my mother, and I remembered how careful we had to be. You had to have this stamp for this and another stamp for something else. And you made everything go as far as you could. One thing we couldn’t get was butter – we had to use oleo. Oleo was white and didn’t look like butter so they gave you a bowl of yellow dye to mix with it. That was my job – to mix the two together.” “I would go to the store with my mother, and I remembered how careful we had to be. You had to have this stamp for this and another stamp for something else. And you made everything go as far as you could. One thing we couldn’t get was butter – we had to use oleo. Oleo was white and didn’t look like butter so they gave you a bowl of yellow dye to mix with it. That was my job – to mix the two together.”

Although times were hard, these kind of sacrifices had positive effects in the country. People all pulled together, and worked toward a common goal: win the war and bring the troops home Although times were hard, these kind of sacrifices had positive effects in the country. People all pulled together, and worked toward a common goal: win the war and bring the troops home

Interesting Fact: Rubber was the first item rationed in the USA. One tire manufacturer asked consumers to drive less and save the rubber on their tires. Their advertising slogan was, “Hitler smiles when you waste miles!” Rubber was the first item rationed in the USA. One tire manufacturer asked consumers to drive less and save the rubber on their tires. Their advertising slogan was, “Hitler smiles when you waste miles!”