Calculate how the past famine and war may have contributed to the community’s structure.

The Giver explained to Jonas that centuries before, there was a famine:

"The population had gotten so big that hunger was everywhere.  Excruciating hunger and starvation.  It was followed by warfare."

The reader can assume that this grim situation described by The Giver led to the strict rules of the Community.  In the Community, everything is closely regulated.  One of the things that is regulated is the Community's population.  Centuries before, the population had become so large that there was not enough food.  In the Community, birthmothers are the only people who can have babies.  These children are then assigned to parents.  The population cannot grow unintentionally because of this system.  Because of this, there is always enough food.  Also, because of sameness there is no war.  All of the other neighboring communities also have similar rules for sameness.