Final answer:
The necessities of the Union army during the Civil War changed the way the nation approached food by causing food shortages in the South, implementing rationing and volunteer reductions in food consumption, and facing challenges in providing food for its armies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The necessities of the Union army during the Civil War changed the way the nation approached food in several ways. Firstly, with the Union's larger population and greater industrial capabilities, the Northern states were able to produce more food and move it more quickly than the South. This resulted in food shortages and hungry civilians in the South, as the best land was devoted to raising cotton. Secondly, to ensure adequate supplies for both the soldiers and the home front, the U.S. government passed the Lever Food and Fuel Control Act, which empowered the president to control the production, distribution, and price of all food products. The creation of the Fuel Administration and the Food Administration under this act encouraged rationing and volunteer reductions in food consumption for the war effort. Lastly, the Union had to establish long supply lines and conquer unfamiliar territory, which posed challenges in providing food for its armies.