Americans were encouraged to buy war bonds to fund the troops.
When people talk about World War II, one of the most common themes is how morally unambiguous a conflict it was. Unlike later military actions, such as the Vietnam War, many of the soldiers who fought with the U.S. Army were eager volunteers. However, the morality of the conflict didn't become so unambiguous without a little work. On both sides of the conflict, the governments utilized artful propaganda posters to influence the sentiments and morale of their citizens.
Mobilizing the Troops
Initially, the American public was opposed to the war. This was because of losses from the First World War and economic issues in the wake of the Great Depression. The sentiment was generally very isolationist. The turning point was the attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. That event made many Americans realize that the war could come to them. However, the isolationist sentiment didn't fade away immediately. Although there was a diehard group of people who joined the Army the day after the attack, many were still on the fence. Instead, the government escalated this sense of insecurity by launching a massive propaganda campaign, largely centered around posters.
War Bonds
To make the war a success, the government had to get the majority of citizens on its side and get them involved with the war effort. This wasn't just directed at the boys in uniform. Women, children and men unable to serve in the military also played an important role. One major element of this was war bonds. Citizens were encouraged to buy these bonds to fund the war effort. One famous war bonds poster featured a group of young American children holding American flags on a grassy lawn, while an ominous swastika cast a shadow over them. The idea was that by purchasing war bonds, you could help aid the Allies in keeping the Nazis away from these innocent children.
Women's Efforts
Since much of the male population was off fighting the war, women had to play an increased role in the workforce. Many propaganda posters either encouraged women to aid in the military effort or to get involved with the production of military supplies at home. Female strength was emphasized in these campaigns, appealing to a strikingly feminist mentality. Women were told that the war would open up professional opportunities for them. The most famous image to come out of these campaigns was that of Rosie the Riveter.
Demonizing the Enemy
On both sides, an important part of the propaganda campaign was demonizing the enemy. People felt much more involved in the war by being able to bond over a common national enemy. The U.S. found the Nazis and the Japanese to be easy targets. Anti-Nazi posters portrayed Hitler and his followers as the portrait of pure evil. Anti-Japanese posters often took a racist route that relied on ugly stereotypes. Although this was considered normal at the time, through the eyes of today, many of these images seem horrific.
