Question by AnGeLa: Why was recycling important during world war 1 and 2?
I am doing a paper on recycling. One of the sources I am using talks about During world war 1 and 2 people would have paper and metal drives for the war effort? I am curious to why this was and why was it important?
Best answer:
Answer by milan77
casue they needed loads of cans to make warplanes guns and that kind of war stuffs hope this helps
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The metal drive in World War II was a propaganda exercise, by Churchill which wrecked the layout of British cities. Many urban railings are only being replaced now.
There was no use for the railings collected as scrap, and they were buried in a quarry.
One or two people pointed this out at the time but they were not encouraged to spread their views.
Recycling was a propoganda tool to make the American populace feel more invested in the war. The truth is that the US was self sustaining and not at risk of a shortage during the war period. Having things like victory gardens helped people feel like they were helping the war cause.
Though some items such as silk were in short supply and needed to create parachutes.
There several reasons why recycling and organizing drives were so important during WW II. One is the obvious and great need for materials and resources. Metals and paper products were badly needed by the war effort, just a rationing was required so that a basic level of food and other consumeables could be made available to troops and civilians. A second important reason was that it was crucial to have the home front part of the systems of war. The government and military and most corporations used the theme of sacrifice – sacrifice by troops and civilians alike – being good for the country. “Together” they would win the war. With so many people away at war families did it willingly and many others, too. People who organized the drives and campaigns were seen as civic minded activists and demonstrated that many could organize civilian groups like military groups and achieve “objectives”. It was propaganda at its best, similar to the propaganda used by nearly every nation at war. America became very good at it during the 1930s and 40s and continues to be one of the best in the early part of 21st century. It is not necessarily a bad thing. It all depends on what effort you believe in.
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The country was united in supporting the war effort. The recycling of metals, rubber, etc. provided raw material for producing the instruments of war.
It was imortant because they needed every bit of metal and paper they could get to make things for the war.
The most important thing these drives did was help civilians feel they were helping the war effort. Many wives and children were left with out their fathers and husbands so by holding these drives people felt they were doing something to take part.
Many materials, especially metals, were in great demand and short supply during WWII. With almost all of the healthy young males in the military, there was an understandable shortage of people to work mining and refining the metals.
Many of the metals were imported. Ships which carried these metals were being sunk by the bad guys.
From 1942 until 1945 , our nickels (5¢) were made with a higher percentage of silver because the nickel (metal) was in such short supply.
In 1943, all of the pennies in the US were made of steel because copper was in short supply.
we recycle now to save resources to preserve our enviornment. during those wars people recycled so that resources could be used for the wars. did you ever see it’s a wonderful life? remember the scene where george is running “drives”? everything the people gave, rubber, steel, etc was sent to the government because it needed those materials.