War Ration Coupon Book, Floyd and Mildred Keddy of Cortland, NY, c. 1940-45
Suggested Teaching Instructions
Many common household food items were rationed at different times during the war including sugar, coffee, processed foods, meats, canned fish, cheese, canned milk, and fat. In addition to food, the government also rationed tires, cars, bicycles, fuel, stoves, and typewriters. A shortage of the raw materials necessary to produce these items resulted in the rationing.
The Office of Price Administration (OPA) ran the ration program during World War 2. This office was created in August of 1941 and abolished in March of 1947. The OPA had several responsibilities during the war including stabilizing prices, rationing items for which a shortage existed, and authorizing the payment of subsidies for the production of certain items. Subsidies are financial payments made to a business by the government in exchange for a guarantee that the business will comply with specific requirements. In the case of World War 2 rationing, businesses agreed to produce certain items and sell them at certain set prices in exchange for the subsidy.
In the end, most Americans complied with the restrictions set through the rationing process because they believed it was their patriotic duty as American citizens. Even if an individual or family had the money to buy more than the specified amount, they only purchased the amount allowed by their ration stamps. As an added way of contributing to the war effort, Americans were also encouraged to salvage, or recycle, items such as tin cans and even fats left over from household cooking.