Black Market: Treason

Before WWII began, Britain had an organized system of imports and exports, and consistently imported 55 million tons of food yearly from neighboring countries. German, being the rising power of Europe that they were, wanted not only territorial domination, but also control of trade. The German navy was able to successfully decrease the import rate that Britain was used to, and Britain was forced into food rationing, similar to the United States when the war began. 

By 1940, Britain was forced to ration bacon, butter and sugar; however as the months went on, meat, fish, tea, eggs, jam, biscuits, milk, breakfast cereals, cheese and canned fruit followed. Townspeople were forced to register with the local shop, and quite often shop owners were reported to the Ministry of Food for selling certain goods out of paranoia due to revenue losses.

A Black Market was established, that catered to the needs of citizens who needed goods that were not easily accessible. The British parliament began to fund investigators in order to prevent the illegal buying and selling of rationed goods. The need for food coupons was too much for the average citizen, yet the government saw the Black Market as total treason.

In my opinion the Black Market was/is treason, and should be punishable by the government. A citizen is a part of a country, and must adhere to the laws of that country when it comes to something as meaningful as food rationing. The food they are buying from the Black Market, is being taken away from a family that relies on food stamps.