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How the US Government Got the American People to Support the War Effort

in World War IICarrie L. Kennedy

American Studies/US History

What is What is PropagandaPropaganda??

• Definition: (from Dictionary.com)1) “The systematic propagation of a

doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.”

2) “Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.”

Plain English, please!

• Propaganda is mass persuasionmass persuasion— spreading a message to convince

someone or a group of people to do something or to believe something

How do we do this?• There are some basic techniques

that the Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA) has “identified” for us to use & evaluate:

www.propagandacritic.com/articles/intro.ipa.html

#1) Name-Calling

• “The name-calling technique links a person, or idea, to a negative symbol”

—IPA, 1938

(http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.wg.name.html)

#2) Glittering Generalities

• “We believe in, fight for, live by virtue words about which we have deep-set ideas...[including] civilization, Christianity, good, proper, right, democracy, patriotism, motherhood, fatherhood, science, medicine, health, and love.”—IPA, 1938 (http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.wg.gg.html)

#3) Euphemisms• Definition: (from Dictionary.com)

“The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive”

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.wg.euphemism.html

#4—Transfer • "Transfer is a device by which the

propagandist carries over the authority, sanction, and prestige of something we respect and revere to something he would have us accept.”—IPA, 1938

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.fc.transfer.html

#5—Testimonial

• Citing a qualified source/significant person to support one’s position

(ex., “Just like President Reagan, I too support a strong military.”)

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.fc.testimonial.html

#6—Plain Folks

• “By using the plain folks technique, speakers attempt to convince their audience that they, and their ideas, are ‘of the people.’ The device is used by advertisers and politicans alike.”

(from http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.sa.plain.html)

#7—Bandwagon • The basic idea of the Band Wagon

appeal is that "everyone else is doing it,

and so should you.”

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.sa.bandwagon.html

#8—Fear

“There are four elements to a successful fear appeal: a threat, a specific recommendation about how the

audience should behave,audience perception that the

recommendation will be effective in addressing the threat, and

audience perception that they are capable of performing the recommended behavior”

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.sa.fear.html

Some other widely used propaganda techniques include:

• Guilt ComplexGuilt Complex•Sex AppealSex Appeal

• Faulty Generalizations• Logical Appeal

How did the US Government use PropagandaPropaganda to get the

support of the American people in the war effort???

By using two major techniques:

• #1) appeal to patriotismpatriotism—love for one’s country

• #2) appeal to one’s sense of fearfear, hatredhatred, and prejudiceprejudice…by demoralizing the enemy

By targeting specific audiences

•WomenWomen

Actually…Canadian but too good to leave out!

•Patriotic Patriotic AmericanAmericanss

Another target Another target audience-audience-

What specific thingsspecific things did the US government want the

American people to do in the war effort?

1. Buy WAR BONDSWAR BONDS!!!

"Any Bonds Today?" Lyricshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpCmyPdXGMw

The tall man with the high hat and the whiskers on his chinWill soon be knocking at your door and you ought to be in

The tall man with the high hat will be coming down your wayGet your savings out when you hear him shout "Any bonds today?"

Any bonds today?Bonds of freedom

That's what I'm sellingAny bonds today?

Scrape up the most you canHere comes the freedom an

Asking you to buy a share of freedom today

Any stamps today?We'll be blestIf we all investIn the U.S.A.

Here comes the freedom manCan't make tomorrow's plan

Not unless you buy a share of freedom today

First came the Czechs and then came the PolesAnd then the Norwegians with three million soulsThen came the Dutch, the Belgians and France

Then all of the Balkans with hardly a chanceIt's all in the Book if only you look

It's there if you read the textThey fell ev'ry one at the point of a gun

America mustn't be next

Any bonds today?All you give

Will be spent to liveIn the Yankee way

Scrape up the most you canHere comes the freedom man

Asking you to buy a share of freedom today

2. Conserve materials/food!

What What propaganda techniquespropaganda techniques do do you you see being used?see being used?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsBG34TSJJ4