The New Deal and WWII
Propaganda and World War II
Propaganda and World War II
In this activity, students analyze World War II propaganda posters from the United States. Students choose four poster and the analysis document to report what they've learned.
Historical Context
Propaganda was one of many weapons used by many countries during World War II, and the United States was no exception. From posters to films and cartoons, the federal government used propaganda not only to buoy the spirit and patriotism of the home front, but also to promote enlistment in the military and labor force. Several government agencies were responsible for producing propaganda, with the largest being the Office of War Information (OWI), created in 1942. The OWI created posters, worked with Hollywood in producing pro-war films, wrote scripts for radio shows, and took thousands of photographs that documented the war effort. Worried by the increase in government sponsored propaganda, academics and journalists established the Institute for Propaganda Analysis. The Institute identified seven basic propaganda devices: Name-Calling, Glittering Generality, Transfer, Testimonial, Plain Folks, Card Stacking, and Band Wagon. [For more on the IPA and the seven devices, please see http://www.propagandacritic.com/] All of these devices were used during the war. In this activity, students will analyze World War II posters, examining the different techniques and themes used by the OWI and other branches of government.
Poster Galery
One of the most famous posters of World War II, "Someone Talked" urges Americans to prevent sensitive information from falling into enemy hands. Closely associated with the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" series communicating the same idea, the image of a drowning sailor dramatically illustrates the consequences of careless talk about military activities.
During World War II, the U.S. government produced a number of propaganda posters aimed at mobilizing women workers to contribute to the war effort, offering images that challenged traditional ideas about the role of women and the nature of their work while still maintaining traditional gender hierarchies.
This 1943 government poster offers an image of racial solidarity among wartime workers under the slogan "United We Win." Although African-Americans did find enhanced opportunities thanks to the high demand for workers and the Roosevelt Administration's creation of the Fair Employment Practices Committee, many black workers continued to encounter discrimination in the workplace during the war years.
One of the most famous posters of World War II, "Someone Talked" urges Americans to prevent sensitive information from falling into enemy hands. Closely associated with the "Loose Lips Sink Ships" series communicating the same idea, the image of a drowning sailor dramatically illustrates the consequences of careless talk about military activities.