The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor dramatically ended the
debate over America's entrance into the war that raged around
the world.. On December 8, the Senate unanimously endorsed
President Roosevelt's request for a declaration of war against
Japan. The House followed suite with only one dissenting vote -
Jeannette Rankin of Montana. Three days later, Germany and Italy
- fulfilling their treaty obligations with Japan - declared war
against the U.S. As eager volunteers flooded local Draft Board
offices ordinary citizens soon felt the impact of the war.
Almost overnight the economy shifted to war production. Consumer
goods took a back seat to military production as rationing began
almost immediately. It was truly a total war affecting every
citizen whether soldier or worker, mother or child. |Motorists
in Washington D.C. line up to fill their tanks the day before
the beginning of gas rationing Rubber became the first commodity
rationed as the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies cut
off our supply. Gasoli