American WWII Propaganda

Transcription

1 American WWII Propaganda When you think of WWII weapons, what comes to mind? Planes, tanks, money? Bullets, machine guns, and grenade launders? Yes, all of these were important tools in the effort to win the war, but government issued information in the form of propaganda was equally important. Over the course of the war the US government waged a constant battle for the hearts and minds of the public. Persuading Americans to support the war effort became a wartime industry, just as important as producing weapons. The US government produced posters, pamphlets, newsreels, radio shows, and movies-all designed to create a public that was 100% behind the war effort. WWII propagandas objectives were recruitment, financing the war effort, unifying the public behind the war effort to eliminate dissent of all kinds, resource conservation, and factory production of war materials. - Define propaganda in your own words: Today you are going to look at some WWII Propaganda posters that were produced in America. For each poster, you will need to decide if the central idea is Recruitment, Financing through War Bonds, Conservation of Resources, National Security, Nationalism, or Homefront Efforts. Check the box once you decide. Some posters have additional questions that will need to be answered while you are at the station. Poster # Recruitment Financing Conservation Security Nationalism Homefront 1. Which resource is being conserved? What would the Axis powers use this resource for? What are rations? Why would citizens at home have rations? 6. What happened at Pearl Harbor? Which state is this harbor in? What kind of position would a women anticipate to fill if they joined the armed forces? Where is this menacing man from? How do you know? 14. Who is this poster against? How do you know? Which other war is being alluded to?

2 Name: Date: Class: American WWII Propaganda: Review 1. The goal of these posters was to unify the American people against a common enemy (the Axis Powers) and to gain their support to fight the war against them. Do you think that these posters were effective at reaching this goal? Why or why not? 2. Imagine that it is 1942 and this is the first time you are seeing these posters. List three emotions that you have viewing these posters: 3. How would you feel viewing these posters if you were a young man? Why? 4. How would you feel viewing these posters if you a young woman? Why? 5. How would you feel viewing these posters as an American of either Japanese or German decent? 6. Which one poster do you feel most effective at relaying its message? What strategies did it use that made it stand out to you?

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18 Name: Date: Class: American WWII Propaganda: Review 1. The goal of these posters was to unify the American people against a common enemy (the Axis Powers) and to gain their support to fight the war against them. Do you think that these posters were effective at reaching this goal? Why or why not? Answers will vary for this entire page. 2. Imagine that it is 1942 and this is the first time you are seeing these posters. List three emotions that you have viewing these posters: 3. How would you feel viewing these posters if you were a young man? Why? 4. How would you feel viewing these posters if you a young woman? Why? 5. How would you feel viewing these posters as an American of either Japanese or German decent? 6. Which one poster do you feel most effective at relaying its message? What strategies did it use that made it stand out to you?

19 American WWII Propaganda When you think of the weapons of WWII, what comes to mind? Planes, tanks, money? Bullets, machine guns, and grenade launders? Yes, all of these were important tools in the effort to win the war. But so what information. In this case, government issued information. Over the course of the war the US government waged a constant battle for the hearts and minds of the public. Persuading Americans to support the war effort became a wartime industry, just as important as producing bullets and places. The US government produced posters, pamphlets, newsreels, radio shows, and movies-all designed to create a public that was 100% behind the war effort. During WWII the objectives of the US government for the propaganda campaign were recruitment, financing the war effort, unifying the public behind the war effort and eliminated dissent of all kinds, resource conservation, and factory production of war materials. - Define propaganda in your own words: Today you are going to look at some WWII Propaganda posters that were produced in America. For each poster, you will need to decide if the central idea of each poster is Recruitment, Financing through War Bonds, Conservation of Resources, National Security, Nationalism, or Homefront Efforts. Check the box once you decide. Some posters have additional questions that will need to be answered while you are at the station. Poster # Recruitment Financing Conservatio n Security Nationalism Homefront 1. Which resource is being conserved? What would the Axis powers use this resource for? Gasoline is being conserved. The Axis Powers would use it to fuel their planes, tanks, and automobiles. 1. X 2. X 3. X 4. X 5. X X 6. X X 7. X 8. X 9. X 10. X 11. X 12. X 13. X 14. X 15. X 5. What are rations? Why would citizens at home have rations? Rations are the supply of food or material that are given to people. Citizens rationed to be able to send more supplies to the war front. 6. What happened at Pearl Harbor? Which state is this harbor in? Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 in Hawaii 10. What kind of position would a women anticipate to fill if they joined the armed forces? Women could expect non-combat roles. This would free up men to go fight in the front. 12. Where is this menacing man from? How do you know? Japan. Japanese flag on his hat/how he looks. 14. Who is this poster against? How do you know? Which other war is being alluded to? This poster is against Germany bc it is showing pickle helmets and swastikas. WWI is being referenced