Americans had to be persuaded to purchase War Bonds

Over $250 million in free advertising pleaded with Americans to purchase War Bonds during the conflict. War bonds were designed to raise money for the war while also taking money out of circulation and lowering inflation. Americans were inundated with advertisements, movies, radio shows, Bond Drives, and banners pleading with them to purchase bonds. A little over $185 billion was raised by almost half of all Americans, despite the fact that the bonds paid below market rates when they became due after ten years.

The adverts were broadcast on radio shows, newsreels, cartoon shorts, newspaper and magazine ads, posters, and in the credits of feature films. Celebrities and decorated combat veterans encouraged Americans to purchase bonds through war bond drives. In order to exchange their saved stamps for bonds, kids were urged to preserve them. Throughout the war, there were eight different War Bond sales drives that were highly publicized with donated campaigns. All achieved their stated objectives.

The eight scheduled drives, the last of which took place in the autumn of 1945 after Japan's surrender, brought in $156 billion of the $185 billion generated through bond sales throughout the war. The War Bonds, also known as Series E Bonds, were promoted by the government as "the greatest investment on earth." They were sold until 1980, when other governmental bonds took their place.