WWII Rationing in the US

Many sources and questions obtained from:

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/idealabs/rationing.html

Introduction

1. What interesting details or observations can you see in these two images?

2. What can you learn from these two images?

Station A: Wartime Shortages

3. What is Rationing?

4. One document says that the cost of living is being controlled better than in WWI because of
rationing, how could rationing help keep prices down for all?

From the video clip (Under Everyone’s Duty on the Website)

5. What were the shoppers fighting over?

6. Why did the man insinuate that each person did not have “a share?”
 7. What is the main message of the video? / Why create this video?

Station B: Home Front Ammunition

Additional information or commentary: All stamps used on the

point system. Blue stamps for processed foods. Stamps lettered
A, B, C were to be used only during Mar. 1943. Stamps D, E and F
only used between Mar. 25-Apr. 30, 1943. Red stamps for meats
and fats. Background paper contains stylized Great Seal and the
phrase "U.S. Government Ration" in blue ink.

8. What were some of the items that were rationed?

9. Did rationing require that people use their money as well as rationing stamps?

10. How could rationing food help the war effort?

11. Who created/ distributed the rationing books?

12. Why should you not throw out the book when the stamps are used?

13. Finish the rule below:

“If you don’t need it, ____________________________________________________________.”

14. Which color stamps were used for Meats and Fats?

15. Which color stamps were used for processed

food?

16. What are the letters for on the stamps?

Station C: Home Front Conservation

17. What were these ration stamps used for?

18. How fast were people allowed to drive?

19. According to the sticker website, who would receive one of these B rations stamps and how
many gallons was each stamp worth?

20. What sticker was issued to the general public (the most common)? How much gasoline could
each car owner receive per week with this type of vehicle?

21. According to the Sticker website, what was the US government’s true goal in rationing gas?

22. Why were items like metal and rubber rationed?

23. How did women support the effort to conserve goods?

Station D: Everyone’s Duty

24. Why was it important for the U.S. government to involve everyone in the war effort?

25. Why was it wrong to shop without rationing stamps?

26. In what ways did children help in the war effort?

27. Why would the president create an office for information so early in the war?

28. Who was the main audience of the propaganda?