American+Posters+of+World+War+I

written/compiled by: Madison Scott (period 6) =Overview= Although the United States joined World War I far later than other countries, the US produced far more propaganda posters than any other single nation in the war. They promoted issues such as recruitment to the various army branches, fundraising for supplies, energy conservation, food advertisements and possibilities for women.

=** History**= During President Woodrow Wilson's campaign for presidency, he promised to the American citizens that America would remain neutral and that he would not lead the country into the European war. However, with Germany's refusal to discontinue their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, it was time for America's isolationism to end. The American citizens were bitter about Wilson's broken promise, and so, it makes sense that many Americans were not supportive of American involvement in World War I.

President Woodrow Wilson, therefore, needed to find a way to convince the public that the war was good. He created the Committee of Public Information, and appointed George Creel, a muckraker journalist, reporter and political reformer, to head it. Creel began a national propaganda campaign as a way to encourage Americans to support the war, and through the CPI, he hired artists to create influential posters and pamphlets. These posters relied not only on art, but also upon the use of psychology and emotional appeal to subtly influence the general public to agree with the government's views.

= = = Artists = George Creel hired some of the best American illustrators of the late 19th / early 20th century to design influential propaganda posters for the government's Committee of Public Information.


 * James Montgomery Flagg** (1877-1960) was an American illustrator who designed 46 influential posters for the government, including the //Uncle Sam "I Want You" Recruitment Poster//, //Wake up America!// and //Every Garden a Munition Plant//. At a young age, he began working with Life Magazine and was on staff for The Judge, and throughout his life, his work was published in a myriad of other magazines. By the 20th century, he had become one of America's leading illustrators. His works are now housed in various galleries across the country.

Some other, less popular, propaganda artists were **Harry S. Bressler**, who created //Help Uncle Sam Stamp Out the Kaiser//; **Henry Patrick Raleigh**, who created //Halt the Hun - Third Liberty Loan//; //and// **H.R. Hopps**, who created //Destroy This Mad Brute - Enlist US Army//. Many of America's WWI Propaganda Posters were created anonymously or have no name tied to the artwork.

= = = = = = **Subject Matter** Propaganda illustrators chose many different subjects about which to create their posters. Not only did the government need the public to be accepting of the war, but it also needed help from the public.

Some posters, such as Flagg's //Uncle Sam "I Want You" Recruitment Poster//, were created to persuade Americans to join the Army, as the US needed to increase the size and strength of its Army. Although many young men were eager to fight, the country needed an army large enough to support the Allied Powers.

Other posters, like //Help Uncle Sam Stamp Out the Kaiser// by Harry S. Bressler, pushed citizens to buy "Liberty Bonds." Like savings bonds of today, Liberty Bonds were a way for the government to borrow money to finance the war. As war generally does, WWI cost the United States a great amount of money, which they did not have. So, these Liberty Bonds were pushed to finance the war, easing the government's financial struggles.

A third common subject, seen in posters such as Flagg's //Every Garden a Munition Plant//, pushed women to start planting "Victory Gardens." These would provide fruits and vegetables to families, and so would lessen dependence on commercial farmers who were already selling their crops to the government to feed the men in the Army.

=**Techniques**= There were many persuasive techniques used by the illustrators of propaganda posters, and by others in the propaganda field. Some commonly used techniques in WWI propaganda were:
 * **Ad homenim**: a Latin phrase meaning "attacking one's opponents"
 * **Bandwagon**: trying to persuade everyone to "join the crowd"
 * **Beautiful People**: the use of famous and/or happy people to give the audience the idea that, they, too could be happy and successful
 * **Black-and-White Fallacy**: giving the audience only two choices, stating that the opinion being presented is the right opinion
 * **Dictat**: does not give the audience alternative choices, and instead tells the audience exactly what actions to take
 * **Flag-waving**: use of a country's flag to make the described action seem patriotic
 * **Glittering Generalities**: the use of emotionally appealing words that have no promise or concrete argument behind them
 * **Name-Calling**: used to associate fear or negative feelings with a certain person, group or idea
 * **Oversimplification**: creating generalities or stereotypes to be used as simple answers to difficult concepts
 * **Quotes Out of Context**: using a quote in a different context to give it a different, generally negative, meaning
 * **Reductio ad Hitlerum**: used to gain disapproval of an idea by saying it is a popular idea with groups that are hated, feared, etc.
 * **Repetition**: the continual use of a certain slogan or image so that the audience will better remember the message
 * **Scapegoating**: pushing all of the blame on a certain individual or group

**Other Famous Posters**



Sources
 * American Propaganda WW1-WW2 << Looking Through the Lens
 * Firstworldwar.com
 * Holt McDougal Online
 * James Montgomery Flagg
 * Liberty Bond Definition
 * Propaganda
 * Victory Gardens for World War One