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Jack Sullivan / Alamy Stock Photo En español | Faced with the coronavirus, Americans have been asked to remain inside our homes, wash our hands and maintain a distance of six feet from

others. During World War II, Americans were asked to make do with less of everything from gasoline to sugar to toothpaste. How tough was the rationing in World War II? Very. Take a look back

at these sacrifices Americans made in support of a common effort. ------------------------- AARP MEMBERSHIP -JOIN AARP FOR JUST $15 FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR WHEN YOU ENROLL IN AUTOMATIC RENEWAL

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------------------------- * LIST * | * SLIDESHOW * Photos * * * 1 of * PHOTO BY: National Archives President Franklin Roosevelt created the Office of Price Administration in August 1941. Its

main responsibility was to place a ceiling on prices of most goods to prevent wartime price gouging, and to limit consumption by rationing. Everyone, including children, was issued a ration

book, each of which had a certain number of rationing points per week. Meat and processed foods, vital for soldiers abroad, had high points. Fresh fruit and vegetables had no points. It was

a complex system that the U.S. drafted cartoonist Chuck Jones to explain on film.  Here, this schoolboy had his first experience using War Ration Book Two. * * * 2 of * PHOTO BY: National

Archives Supplies such as gasoline, butter, canned milk and sugar were rationed so they could be provided for the war effort. Many people got three gallons of gas a week. The people here

were standing in line for sugar, the first and last commodity that was rationed. The allocation was half a pound a week, half of what Americans typically consumed. * * * 3 of * PHOTO BY:

National Archives Just as the Twitter hashtag #stayhome is designed to encourage people to practice social distancing — and feel good about doing it —rationing posters provided a sense of

patriotism and a link to efforts at home for those serving overseas. Armies travel on their bellies. Although the federal government was promoting increased production of food, it also

encouraged curtailing food waste. Citizens were told to eat their leftovers and “lick their plate clean." * * * 4 of * PHOTO BY: National Archives Mechanized warfare requires plenty of

gasoline and oil. Civilians were asked to dress warmly in order to preserve oil and fuel for military transportation purposes. Rationing gasoline and other fuels kept energy-hungry tanks and

battleships running. The government urged people to cut down on anything that strained fuel resources — even taking long showers. * * * 5 of * PHOTO BY: Library of Congress Scrap drives

were a common way people could provide for the war effort. Contributing rags, rubber, paper or metal could help the government build airplanes and other equipment needed to fight the war.

The first nonfood item rationed was rubber, because many of Asia’s rubber plantations were under Japanese control. President Roosevelt asked citizens to help by contributing old tires,

rubber raincoats, garden hoses, shoes and bathing caps. Millions of discarded tires covered over 100 acres at this Midwest recovery plant. * * * 6 of * PHOTO BY: Library of Congress To

extend the life of rationed goods, wartime recipes included suitable replacements for limited ingredients. These wives of war workers, in Alexandria, Virginia, learned wartime cooking

methods during a food demonstration meeting. * * * 7 of * PHOTO BY: Library of Congress To fill the insufficient ranks of military nurses, posters and pamphlets urged young women to become a

nurse. Once a woman was determined eligible, she had to be trained for wartime and combat nursing. This included exercises in medicine, map-reading, physical endurance and Army procedures.

* * * 8 of * PHOTO BY: Library of Congress The U.S. Treasury offered a series of war bonds citizens could purchase to invest in the country and, ideally, one’s own financial future. A $25

war bond could be purchased for $18.75. The government would use the money to pay for military equipment. After about 10 years the bond could be redeemed for $25, a nearly 3 percent average

annual return. * * * 9 of * PHOTO BY: Library of Congress Chicago schoolchildren present the US military with a check from their fundraising efforts Public school children in Chicago

purchased $263,148.83 in war bonds and stamps. The campaign concluded with a rally in Washington Park. The large check represented enough money for 125 jeeps, two pursuit (fighter) planes

and a motorcycle. MORE ON EVENTS IN HISTORY * How America fought the Spanish Flu a century ago * Supporters pay tribute to hospital workers across the globe * USNS Mercy deployed on the West

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