WWI Propaganda

Bending the Truth During the War Effort

What is propaganda?

Information or material spread to advance a cause, or damage an opponent’s cause

How are propaganda and advertising similar?

• Similar Purpose: Both want you to get you to take some type of

actionAdvertising – to get people to buy a product or use a servicePropaganda – to get people to think, act, or feel a particular

way

• Similar tools: slogans, humor, emotional images and language, bandwagon

Objectives of Wartime Propaganda

1. Recruitment of Soldiers

2. Financing the War effort

3. Unifying the country behind the war

4. Conservation of resources needed for war

5. Participation in home-front efforts

Tools used in Wartime Propaganda

•Catchy Slogans – memorable slogans used to gain support

Humor or Caricatures

• Using humor to capture attention

Bandwagon

• Everyone is doing it, you don’t want to be left out

Half Truth’s or Lies

• Twisting the truth or deception

Emotional Appeals or Symbols

• Playing on peoples emotions, especially fear, and a sense of duty

Patriotic Appeals

• Using patriotic symbols or language

Name Calling

• Using labels to encourage hatred of the enemy

Demonization

• Portraying the enemy as evil or beastly

Practice• 1. What propaganda objective is this poster

designed to achieve?• 2. What propaganda tools are used in the

poster? Explain.

Check Your Answers

• Propaganda Objective: Financing the war

• Propaganda ObjectivesHumor/Caricature – Kaiser in a

humorous pose about to get stepped on

Catchy Slogan: Stamp out the Kaiser

Patriotic Symbols – Uncle Sam

Procedures for Activity

• Each group will evaluate 3 posters• Appoint a spokesperson to ask questions• Identify the propaganda objectives and tools• Record your answers on the Notes on WWI handout

Be sure to explain your reasoning

• You will have 15 minutes for this activity• If you finish early, your spokesperson may ask for

additional posters• Be prepared to present one of your posters to the

class

Exit Slip• 1. What propaganda objective is this poster

designed to achieve?• 2. What propaganda tools are used in the

poster? Explain.