Analyzing World War I Propaganda

Posters

Pair-SharePair-ShareDo you agree or disagree with the following

statements? Why or why not?

“A government should not mobilize an army of anger, military leaders should not provoke a war of wrath” (Sun Tzu, The Art of War)

It is the role of wives and children to encourage their husbands, sons and brothers to fight and perhaps die for one’s country.

You should not hide behind the shield of non-violence when innocent people are being slaughtered.

ALL political agendas, personal causes, ethnic rivalries take second place to winning the war.

Universal military conscription (the Draft) of all young men is the fairest way to supply the man power for a nation’s war effort.

“Patriotism based on hatred kills, patriotism based on love gives life.” (Gandhi)

The government should tax, borrow, ration, prevent strikes, and set prices in order to pay for the costs of war.

Public opinion must be controlled through propaganda and censorship. Individual liberties may be suspended for the war effort.

CA Standard:10.5.1CA Standard:10.5.1 Analyze the arguments for entering into

war presented by leaders from all sides of the Great War and the role of political and economic rivalries, ethnic and ideological conflicts, domestic discontent and disorder, and propaganda and nationalism in mobilizing the civilian population in support of "total war."

ObjectiveObjectiveStudents will be able to

understand propaganda and nationalism in mobilizing the civilian population in support of "total war“ by analyzing propaganda posters.

Pair-SharePair-Share What is “TOTAL WAR”?

“a war in which every available weapon is used and the nation's full financial resources are devoted “

“military conflict in which the contenders are willing to make any sacrifice in lives and other resources to obtain a complete victory”

The First World War was the first global

war that used “Total War”.

People around the world focused all of their energies on winning the war.

Factories focused on supplying war materials.

Men were encouraged to join the fight.

All aspects of life were related to the war effort.

While the men left the factories to fight the war, women were encouraged to replace them at the work place.

Many women were also encouraged to join women’s branches of the military or

the Red Cross.

Propaganda was used to encourage support for the war.

Propaganda – What is it?Propaganda – What is it?

PropagandaPropaganda is a is a persuasivepersuasive technique used to spread technique used to spread information to help or hurt a information to help or hurt a cause. Governments use cause. Governments use propaganda to support “total propaganda to support “total war” in a country. war” in a country.

Check for Understanding

How did propaganda work to convince people to help in the war effort?

Common Objective of Common Objective of PropagandaPropaganda 1. Unify the people of a country to

support a war – eliminate any opposition 2. Convince people to save resources like

food, oil, steel – necessary to fight a war 3. Recruit soldiers 4. To persuade people to participate in

home-front organizations to support the war effort

Tools Used in PropagandaTools Used in PropagandaDemonizationName CallingPatriotic SymbolsCatchy SlogansAppeal to Fear

DemonizationDemonization This tool convinces people

to hate the enemy by depicting them as evil. The enemy may be portrayed as a scary creature or the devil himself.

This tool becomes more powerful when the enemy can be blamed for committing atrocities against women and children.

Name CallingName Calling This tool uses

loaded labels to encourage hatred of the enemy. Labels like “Japs” and “Huns” reinforce negative stereotypes and help to demonize the enemy.

Patriotic SymbolsPatriotic Symbols This tool is used to This tool is used to

promote nationalism promote nationalism within a country. within a country.

Common symbols or Common symbols or slogans are used to slogans are used to build national pride.build national pride.

Catchy SlogansCatchy Slogans This tool involves

using memorable phrases to encourage support for the war. For example, “Remember the Alamo!”

Appeal to FearAppeal to Fear Appeal to Fear Appeal to Fear

builds support by builds support by creating fear in creating fear in population.population.

Disaster will result Disaster will result if you do not follow if you do not follow a specific course of a specific course of action.action.

Propaganda Propaganda Analysis Pair Analysis Pair

ActivityActivity

DirectionsDirections Step 1: Describe what you see in the

poster. Step 2: Check off the propaganda

tools used in the poster. Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the

poster related to “total war” Let’s complete one together…

ExampleExample

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#1

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#2

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#3

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#4

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#5

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#6

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#7

Step 1: Describe what you see in the poster.

Step 2: Check off the propaganda tools used in the poster.

Step 3: Describe the goal(s) of the poster related to “total war”

#8

Wrap-Up DiscussionWrap-Up Discussion What were some of the most common

goals used in the propaganda posters? What were some of the most common

tools used? Which propaganda poster do you think

was the most persuasive? Why? To what extent does propaganda

appeal to emotions and not reason?