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The United States Treasury Department began offering what were known as "Defense Bonds" in May, 1941. These non-negotiable bonds were renamed "War Bonds" shortly after the United States officially entered World War II on December 8, 1941. These War Bonds , aka "E" Bonds, could be purchased by American citizens outright in amounts ranging from $25 and up, or alternatively one could purchase ten cent stamps that could be saved up in a book and redeemed for the actual War Bonds. Americans were advised by the government to delay "cashing in" the bonds until the war was over.
For the duration of the war, the U.S. Treasury conducted "War Loan Drives", set periods of time during which an onslaught of entertainers, radio programs, posters, newspaper ads, articles, magazines, and short films urged Americans to purchase as many war bonds as possible to help fund the war effort. And the money was needed---on November 19, 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that the war was costing the United States $250,000,000 a day. There would ultimately wind up being eight numbered War Loan Drives during the duration of World War II, with the eighth and final one being dubbed the "Victory Loan Drive". Similar War Loan Drives had been conducted during the first World War---but whereas the propaganda for those campaigns relied largely on posters and newspapers, during World War II a coalition of actors, comedians and singers would help lead the way.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/files...ry_olney.pdf