Chocolate & Courage: How American Ingenuity Won Wars & Won Hearts

A Sweet History: How Candy Bars Became an American Staple

Folks, let’s talk about something important. Something really important. Not politics, not the border, but a true American success story: the candy bar. It's easy to take these little slices of heaven for granted, but believe me, there's a whole lot of history packed into that chocolate coating.

It all started a long, long time ago, way back when folks were still settling this great nation. Chocolate itself? That goes back thousands of years, to the ancient Mesoamericans. But the candy bar as we know it? That’s a more recent development, and a particularly American one.

See, chocolate arrived here and quickly became popular – and practical. George Washington himself was a fan, and for good reason. Chocolate was a fantastic energy boost for our troops, both in the Revolutionary War and, later, the Civil War. A soldier marches on his stomach, as they say, and a bit of chocolate could make all the difference.

But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that things really started to take shape. The British, bless their hearts, figured out how to make a solid chocolate bar – Joseph Fry was the man to thank – and then Cadbury started selling individual candies. But it was here, in America, that it really took off.

Now, some folks don’t realize this, but World War I was a major turning point. Our boys overseas were given chocolate to keep their spirits up and their energy levels high. And when they came home? They craved it. Conveniently, this coincided with that misguided experiment called Prohibition. Folks needed something to enjoy, and chocolate filled the void.

The roaring twenties saw an explosion of candy bars. Forty thousand different varieties! Can you imagine? Companies sprung up all over the place, each trying to capture a piece of the market. They named their bars after local heroes and popular figures, appealing to regional pride. It was a golden age of ingenuity and, frankly, good taste.

One man, Otto Schnering, was a real visionary. He understood marketing. His company, Curtiss Candy, created the Baby Ruth, and he wasn't afraid to get creative. Aerial advertising, product placement in films… the man knew how to get his product noticed. He even got Shirley Temple to feature the Baby Ruth in her film Baby Takes a Bow! Genius, pure genius.

Then came the Depression. Times were tough, but candy bar companies adapted. Some even marketed their bars as affordable meal replacements. A quick, convenient way to get some energy when money was tight. It showed real American resilience, if you ask me.

World War II saw Hershey’s step up once again, creating special ration bars for our troops. They knew what our soldiers needed, and they delivered. Afterwards, things began to consolidate. Better transportation and refrigeration meant that the bigger companies – Hershey’s, Mars, Nestle – started to dominate.

It's a different landscape now, of course. But the story of the candy bar is a testament to American innovation, marketing savvy, and a little bit of sweet tooth. It’s a reminder that even in tough times, a little bit of comfort can go a long way. And frankly, I think we all deserve a little bit of comfort every now and then.