Propaganda is a message aimed at serving an ideological agenda. Governments used propaganda posters in World War I from 1914-1918 because television had not been invented and radio was not yet accessible to everyone.
Purpose
The war effort required the procurement of men, money, and resources. Posters had proven successful in Britain for military recruitment; therefore, posters were also employed in the United States. Joining late in the war, the U.S. produced more propaganda posters than any other nation.
Types
Poster were initially used for recruitment, then to encourage conservation, for fund raising, and to justify American involvement in World War I. The federal government designed and paid for posters to help Americans endure and support the war effort.
Persuasion
The poster campaign was successful by using persuasive words. Facts presented on the posters were chosen only to present the position of the government. Persuasive words were used to encourage Americans to join the crowd because everyone wants to be on the winning side.
Others
Propaganda posters used testimonials of respected people to endorse the war effort. They also used "plain folks" speaking to other Americans in language they can understand.
Symbolism
Posters were carefully constructed to use symbols such as waving flags to stir positive emotions for the war effort. Propagandists during WWI painted in broad strokes, making broad, sweeping statements as turn of the century sound bites or slogans to provide reasons for supporting the war effort.
Fun Fact
The propaganda posters are an interesting study of the culture of the era. Posters pleaded with Americans to save their "smokes" for the troops as well as wheat, records, and books. One poster encouraged the country to eat cottage cheese instead of meat, corn instead of wheat, and syrups instead of sugar.
