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US WWI propaganda posters

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142 years young and still strong Uncle Sam is going to war

The US entered war I in 1917 in alliance with the good Britain and France. By this time the US economy was one the largest in the world, but nevertheless the government needed to raise funds to support the military activity in Europe in all possible ways, including selling bonds to the citizens of the US. Here’s how the art of the propaganda came in help. The United States was already a leader and trendsetter in the recently discovered art of movie making and therefore the new profession of economic advertising. So it was just a matter of time when such effective newly discovered technologies will become an instrument  in the shaping of the American people’s minds and therefore the altering of popular opinion into a pro-war position. The idea of participating in the war ‘over there’ had to be planted into citizen’s minds and result into recruitment to the army itself or funding the war activities with their dollars.

The visual part of this propaganda consisted mainly of posters. The simple attention grabbing slogan and the self speaking illustration served well, convincing people to support the army. They might be pasted on the edges of buildings, put within the windows of homes, tacked up in workplaces, and resized to seem above car windows and in magazines.

In 1917 the U.S. government’s public information committee formed a Division of Pictorial Publicity, and their main goal was to use the advertising techniques in messaging the war news. The committee, headed by former investigative journalist George Creel, emphasised the message that America’s involvement within the war was entirely necessary in achieving the salvation of Europe from the German and enemy forces.

In his book titled “How we Advertised America,” Creel admitted  that the committee was called into existence to form WWI a fight that might be a “verdict for mankind”. He called the committee a voice that was created to plead the justice of America’s cause before the jury of popular opinion . Creel also refers to the committee as a “vast enterprise in salesmanship” and “the world’s greatest adventure in advertising”. Needless to say that the committee’s message resonated deep within every American community and also served as a corporation liable for carrying the complete message of yank ideals to each corner of the civilized globe. The isolationism that was once popular across the US public opinion was replaced with understanding of the importance of the events that took place in Europe and necessity of the US government to participate in them.

142 years young and still strong Uncle Sam is going to war

 

Recruiting the young women during WWI

US army needed women too

 

This Liberty loan promotion looked pretty hot in 1917. And it worked!

 

New York, 3rd Liberty loan, Rainbow division

The people of the Rainbow Division helping to win the war by investing into loans

 

US Navy promotion poster , WWI

Country needed a lot of marines and navy recruits

National League Woman's Service

That’s how the emancipation became even stronger in US. Women will get their election right 10 years after WWI

 

Navy marines poster

Another simple and effective US nave poster

Liberty loan promotion

Liberty is calling. And asking for billions of dollars. You could buy much more for those billions 100 years ago

 

WWI Kaiser US propaganda

Not all of the US citizens knew that the Germany was ruled by the Kaiser during WWI

 

liberty loan promotion

Investing into was is fun!

 

Buy bonds, 3rd liberty loan advertisement

Another hot lady promoting fight for freedom

 

slacker records for the army

Supporting soldiers with records? Why not!

 

Christmas WWI promotion

Santa was involved into propaganda too

 

Census propaganda

Have your answers ready poster

 

US bonds poster

Boy scouts promoted Liberty loans too

 

vintage WWI poster

Not all of the US citizens knew about Serbia, but they had to save it

save corn seeds propaganda

Everything is important during war times. Corn seeds are needed too

Red cross WWI poster

A liitle starving child brought back to life because you went without luxury


 

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2 years ago

[…] Read more: US WWI propaganda posters […]

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2 years ago

[…] raised funds for military purposes during the wartime, and these loans had different promotions (like WW1 posters), and creative ideas like this pyramid. So this bright image is another page in the history of the […]

melody stan
melody stan
2 years ago

nice

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