Rationing

During WWII every American  was called on to contribute to the war effort. Those who stayed at home were asked to gather metal  and rubber salvage for recycling, to follow the rationing restrictions, and to become more self-sufficient.

On January 30, 1942, the Emergency Price Control Act granted the Office of Price Administration (OPA) the authority to set price limits and ration food and other commodities in order to discourage hoarding and ensure the equitable distribution of scarce resources.

By the spring, Americans were unable to purchase sugar without government-issued food coupons. Vouchers for coffee were introduced in November, and by March of 1943, meat, cheese, fats, canned fish, canned milk and other processed foods were added to the list of rationed provisions. In response, people were encouraged to grow Victory Gardens.

Posters explaining what was being rationed and why compliance with the restrictions was important to the war effort were distributed by government agencies in charge of rationing and emergency management.