Canadian Propaganda World War One

What is Propaganda? “the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person” (Webster’s Dictionary)

Propaganda is an inexpensive and efficient means of spreading a message to a mass population

During WWI, all countries used propaganda posters for two main reasons: 1) To justify involvement in the war to their own population

2) To recruit men, raise money and collect resources to sustain the military campaign

Canadian Propaganda Targeted different parts of the population: – Young, healthy men were urged to enlist as soldiers

– Women were asked to preserve food due to shortages to make sure that nothing was wasted

US Example

– All adults were targeted to buy Victory Bonds and to invest in the “Canadian Patriotic Fund”

– Boys were asked to work on farms to overcome labour shortages

– Children were encouraged to buy “thrift stamps” to support the war

Tactics Used in Propaganda Guilt: –Showing pictures of soldiers who need “your” help –Saying one would be selfish not to help out

Honour: -To fight is the noble thing to do Patriotism: -“Your country needs you now!”

Fear: –If we don’t win, the war will come here Obligation: –If you can’t fight then you should contribute in other ways

Peer Pressure: -Everyone has a role to play, what will you do? -“Daddy, what did you do in the Great War?”

Effective Propaganda Effective propaganda is for the consumption of the masses, not intellectuals –It must appeal to everyone, regardless of race, culture, wealth, ancestry, position, or religion Effective propaganda has a few messages that are constantly repeated Effective propaganda needs no interpretation –it is positive or negative, based on good or evil –Should be idealistic, not realistic Effective propaganda has a striking format and extreme content –It should attract attention, even from a distance

The Conscription Crisis Conscription: military service required by law In 1917 Prime Minister Borden visited England and realized the Allies needed to send more troops. Most of the eligible men of Ontario, Western Canada, and the Atlantic region had already volunteered. In August 1917, Borden introduced the “Military Service Act” which made military service compulsory for men between the ages of 20 and 45. Borden’s decision bitterly divided the country. He needed to win the next election (December, 1917) in order to prove that Canadians supported his decision. In the end, conscription was hardly worth the trouble it caused since very few conscripts ever actually got to war.