1. Wartime Propaganda The Posters that Influenced the Home Front

2. What does propaganda mean? Random House Dictionary Definition: “information or ideas methodically spread to promote or injure a cause, group or nation” But what does that mean? Propaganda is a form of advertising to get an idea across to a group of people. Sometimes the idea is true, but sometimes the idea is a lie.

3. What kind of propaganda was used on the US home front? The United States government wanted the people of America to believe fighting World War II was the right thing to do. They formed an agency called the Office of War Information (OWI). OWI controlled the news and thought up ways to show their idea to Americans. Most of the information from the OWI was true. They brought the war closer to home.

4. How did the government show the propaganda? Radio Movies (“Movietone News”) Magazines Newspapers Posters What ways could propaganda be shown today? Are there any different means (ways) then during World War II?

5. Tell me more about the posters! Posters were a way for everybody to see what America was fighting for. They could be posted anywhere from train stations to bathrooms! Most posters were not photographs. They were painted by very talented artists.

6. “Thanks for Loafing, Pal!” The posters in home front America had a variety of messages. This poster warned against being lazy in the workplace. Hitler was thanking an American worker, because slow production meant Germany could win.

7. More Reasons for Posters The posters during the war had many themes. Some major themes were conserving, working hard, spying, recruiting, and reminding America what they were fighting for. What do you think this poster is about?

8. Where could I find out more? Design For Victory By: William L. Bird, Jr. and Harry R. Rubenstein WWII Propaganda PostersWWII Propaganda Posters Power of Persuasion: Poster Art from World War IIPower of Persuasion: Poster Art from World War II

9. Resources Information and pictures from: Bird, W. L. & Baltes, P. B. (1998). Design for victory: World war ii on the american home front. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. Pictures from pages (in order of appearance) 37, 70, 42, 90 Return to home page