Use of Propaganda On American Citizens During World War I

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Propaganda was used by the government as a Mean to accomplish all their major objectives during the war. Propaganda played a very significant part in winning over the citizens of the Unites States of America in the First World War. This propaganda helped gain support for the war, and also created a high morale of the people. Although this is the definition of propaganda, the real question is how valuable really was this propaganda in influencing the views of Americans? The answer is very useful, and looking at propaganda used throughout this major world war you’ll notice its value. The reason why this propaganda was so successful throughout the war was simple; there were more then one type of propaganda. Some of which were through wars songs, poetry, advertisements, posters, editorial cartoons, speeches, and movie stills. Many different forms were needed because the war effort was a national cause and needed to be promoted wherever people looked to become involved. A large percent of the population of the United States did not read newspapers. This is why posters were important in persuading people and like advertising, propaganda targeted specific audiences such as women, young men, and African Americans. With all the different types of propaganda, and how it came to the liking of many different types of people, the belief that war was a good thing spread like an pandemic around America. Propaganda was the government’s ideas that they wanted to put in the head of its citizens. One of such these ideas was the thought of getting people to join and fight in the army. An example of this propaganda to recruit many people into the army was the famous Uncle Sam poster. This poster was very influential and caused many Americans to joi... ... middle of paper ... ...g man to serve for his country, and if they don’t they are a disgrace to their family name. (Pg. 147) These poems were very effective in influencing American’s because within the works, the ideas of patriotism were so strong that it persuaded many young men to join the armed forces. Propaganda was a very successful method used by the government in influencing the minds of American’s during the first major world war. During this time period the people’s minds were very susceptible to it, and propaganda was used perfectly used to structure many Americans minds. The reasons why it was so successful were that it targeted certain groups of people, there were many different types of it, and it was spread amongst the people effortlessly. The effect of all of this was that there was enough support, money, and soldiers to enter the war and eventually America did just that.

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