World War II – The Home front – December 1941 – August 1945

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States declared war on Japan. Then Germany declared war on us.

Then, the men marched off to war.

People put up black-out curtains to prevent light from their homes being seen from the street or from the air. They were afraid of being bombed. This did not happen in the United States, although it happened regularly in England.

Building airplanes

Industries needed workers, so they turned to the people who didn’t go off to war, women.

A real life Rosie the Riveter

The automobile industry began turning out jeeps and tanks by the thousands.

Anyone who had a yard or any unused land was encouraged to plant a victory garden.

Kids were sent into the countryside to pick crops after school and on weekends.

Scrap drives collected metal and rubber to be used in the making of aircraft, motor vehicles, and weapons

Movie stars encouraged people to donate scrap and money for war bonds.

The U.S. government's Office of Price Administration (OPA) directed the rationing of scarce items. American shoppers were issued ration books that allowed each family member a limited share of certain products each month. Goods in especially short supply were rationed more strictly.

Rationing of sugar, coffee, automobile tires, gasoline, and heating oil began in 1942. Americans had to keep their thermostats at a chilly 65° through the harsh winter of 1942-43. By 1943 shoes, cheese, fats, canned goods, and meat were being rationed. A pound of scarce items like sirloin steak, pork tenderloin, cheddar cheese, or even butter could cost an individual his or her entire weekly meat allotment.

This line has formed to buy sugar using rationing coupons.

When the war was over, the men returned. All the factories fired the women and told them to go home and raise a family. The jobs were then given to the men.