WWI PropagandaWhat are some characteristics of propaganda or political cartoons?

Background• Each of the nations that participated in WWI from

1914-18 used propaganda not only as a means of justifying involvement to their own citizens, but also as a means of recruiting men, money and resources to sustain the military campaign.

• Propaganda was also used to unite the nation against an enemy; portrayed enemy countries in a negative manner

• Interestingly, the U.S. joined the war relatively late - April 1917 - she produced many more propaganda posters than any other single nation

Characteristics of Propaganda• Evoke emotion: sympathy, fear, patriotism

• Clear message or slogan

• Encourages involvement or action; persuasive

• Often relies on ethically suspect methods of influence (deception, distortion, misrepresentation)

• Use of color or symbols

• Serves a purpose (government, interest group)

Common Propaganda Techniques• Plain Folks Appeal: “I’m one of you”

• Testimonials: “I saw the Germans murder hundreds…”

• Bandwagon: “Everybody’s doing it”

• Card-Stacking: presenting only one side of a story

• Transfer: positive or negative associations, such as a politician posing with a flag

• Glittering generalities: idealistic or loaded language, such as “freedom,” “family values,” etc.

• Name calling: power-hungry, Hun, anarchist, etc.

Robaudi, Alcide Théophile; 1917America owes

France the most unalterable

gratitude. French Comrade your

children shall be as our children.

Stern; 1918. Are you 100%

American? Prove it! Buy

U.S. government

bonds : Third Liberty Loan

Strothmann, Frederick; 1917

Beat back the Hun with Liberty Bonds

Stahr, Paul; 1918.

Be patriotic : sign your country's

pledge to save the food

United States.

Dept. of the Treasury. Publicity Bureau.

Buy Liberty Bonds

Illian, George. Cardinal

Mercier has appealed to the

Food Administration for more food for starving

millions.

***Mercier was a Belgian cardinal who was known for his staunch opposition to German

occupation***

Steele; U.S. Food Administration

Defeat the Kaiser and his U-boats : victory depends

on which fails first, food or

frightfulness : eat less wheat

Faivre, Abel. L'Emprunt de la Libération (The loan of liberation)

Christy, Howard Chandler. Fight or buy bonds : Third

Liberty Loan

Chambers, Charles Edward. Food will win the war : you

came here seeking freedom, you must

now help to preserve it : wheat is needed for the Allies, waste

nothing.

Orr, Alfred Everitt. For home and

country : Victory Liberty Loan

Cittadino, A. For liberty,

civilization, and humanity

Harris, Lawrence S. "Good bye, Dad,

I'm off to fight for Old Glory, you buy

U.S. gov't bonds" :Third Liberty Loan

La grande offensiva Italiana : la disfatta Austriaca sul Montello. (The Great Italian Offensive:

Austrian defeat at Montello)

Halt the Hun! : buy U.S.

government bonds, Third Liberty Loan

United States. Dept. of the

Treasury. Publicity Bureau. My daddy

bought me a government bond of

the Third Liberty Loan, did yours?

Faivre, Abel. Pour la France, versez votre or : l'or combat pour

la victoire (For France,

pour your gold or fight for victory)

Ring it again : buy U.S. gov't bonds : Third Liberty Loan

Your war savings pledge

: Our boys make good

their pledge--Are you

keeping yours?

War until Victory!

Summary: Scene depicting French women in war-time. One woman is working in a factory, one is nursing her child, and another woman is hoeing in the field. In the background is an outline of

Victory. French women made up over 40 percent

of the work force during the war. Over two million were recruited into positions in

heavy industry.

Britain's portrayal of Germany

Kriegsanleihe, helft den Hütern eures

Glückes. Summary: Poster

shows a man holding a sword

with his other arm around his wife and baby. Text:

War loans help the guardians of your

happiness

Bolshevism means the world will drown in blood.

Association to Fight Against Bolshevism

We won't tolerate anarchy!

We'll protect

women and children

Austrian propaganda;

Text announces the fourth bond drive

Summary: Poster shows a medieval

knight with the Austrian Imperial eagle on his

tunic, standing in front of an Austrian banner, with his sword raised as if about to strike. Text tells people to subscribe to the 5th

War Loan at the Živnostenská bank in Prague or one of the

branch banks.

WWI Propaganda Websites

• http://www.firstworldwar.com/posters/index.htm

• http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/propaganda/first_e.shtml

WWI Propaganda Project

• Can be from the perspective of any country involved (include translations)

• You are creating your own, NOT recreating someone else’s propaganda

• Must be neat, legible, creative, and organized• I am not grading on artistic ability, I am grading

on your ability to understand the characteristics of propaganda and how they were used during WWI

• This is worth 40 points and due Monday 4/28!