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World War I Propaganda: How and Why It Was Used

Details

Author
Laura Edgin
Topic/Subject Area
Media, Periodicals, Communication; Military, Wars, Battles
Historical Era
Progressive Era, World War I, 1900–1928
Grade Level
Middle School (6–8), High School (9–12)
Creation Date
2010
Last Revision Date
2024

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About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that propaganda can be used to promote an idea or cause. Students will understand and appreciate its use in World War I to promote patriotic support of the U.S. troops and Allies.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items

Teaching Plan

  1. Pre-activity: Students will have previous instruction on the beginning of the war and the root causes behind the U.S. joining. They will have knowledge of political, economic and social issues prevalent before and after the U.S. entering the war.
  2. As a class, discuss the poster “Farmers Help the Belgians”. Students will discuss:
    1. Why did the Belgians need help?
    2. Compare Belgium’s stand at the beginning of the war with the U.S. stand at the same time.
    3. Why do you suppose the U.S. felt the need to help? (Remember b. as well.)
    4. What items were to be brought?
    5. Who was to attend?
    6. Do you feel this attitude of helpful doing will persist as the U.S. enters the war? Why?/Why not?
  3. The students will break into three groups. Each group will receive only one of the following: “Together We Win”, “Rivets are Bayonets / Drive them home!”, and “WWI Cartoons”. The students will answer:
    1. What cause is this document promoting?
    2. Why was this a prevalent cause?
    3. Who was the target audience?
    4. What about the drawing was particularly persuasive or had a feeling of optimism? Were there any pessimistic techniques used?
  4. Each group will share information on their document with the other two groups.
  5. Each student will be given an assignment to analyze “Keep them smiling”. They will answer (and discuss):
    1. What do you suppose was the goal of the United War-Work Campaign?
    2. Who did they want to “keep smiling”?
    3. What would be needed to “keep them smiling”?
    4. What significance might that be to people at home in the U.S.?
    5. Which groups participated?
    6. Where might you have seen this poster hanging? They can share this information during this class time or the next.
  6. Post-activity: As an evaluative activity, students will design their own World War I poster and write a paragraph explaining their cause, audience and techniques used.