Rationing During The Great War

At the start of The Great War, or World War I, the economy of America was a market economy. Citizens relished on the trades between foreign countries after the Civil War. In April, 1917 Congress declared America's involvement in war, and the nation was not prepared on the home front. The United States military grew to an astounding four million troops. Who was going to feed these troops? How were the factories going to receive the resources needed to produce their weapons? In order for the military to be successful in The Great War thousands of miles from home, they would need the support and voluntary rationing in order to provide for the soldiers. A way that this was executed was through the Food Administration, under Herbert Hoover. The federal government was able to successful get the American citizens to buy into lowering their resources in order to pass them on to the soldiers. Hoover spurned ration cards in favor of voluntary “Meatless Tuesdays” and “Wheatless Wednesdays,” suing posters, billboards, and other media to whip up a patriotic spirit which encouraged people to voluntarily sacrifice some of their own goods for the war. Other campaigns included,“heatless Mondays,” “lightless nights,” and “gasless Sundays” in accordance with the Fuel Administration. This led to great deal of left over resources. Some citizens, in the pursuit of helping the home front, placed gardens where they could grow crops for the soldiers, usually on street corners or in the open spaces, called "Victory Gardens." During this time of assistance, farmers were able to increase their production by one forth. The soldiers of not only America were fed, but other Allied Forces used the resources provided. By the end of the war, an Allied victory was capable due to the successful American home front.