Carrie L. Kennedy American Studies/US History

1. Home Front Propaganda:How the US Government Got the American People to Support the War Effort in World War II Carrie L. Kennedy American Studies/US History

2. What is Propaganda? • Definition: (from Dictionary.com) 1) “The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.” 2) “Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.”

3. Plain English, please! • Propaganda is mass persuasion— spreading a message to convince someone or a group of people to do something or to believe something

4. How do we do this? • There are some basic techniques that theInstitute for PropagandaAnalysis (IPA) has “identified” for us to use & evaluate: www.propagandacritic.com/articles/intro.ipa.html

5. #1) Name-Calling • “The name-calling technique links a person, or idea, to a negative symbol” —IPA, 1938 (http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.wg.name.html)

6. #2) Glittering Generalities • “We believe in, fight for, live by virtue words about which we have deep-set ideas...[including] civilization, Christianity, good, proper, right, democracy, patriotism, motherhood, fatherhood, science, medicine, health, and love.” —IPA, 1938 (http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.wg.gg.html)

7. #3) Euphemisms • Definition: (from Dictionary.com) “The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive” http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.wg.euphemism.html

8. #4—Transfer • "Transfer is a device by which the propagandist carries over the authority, sanction, and prestige of something we respect and revere to something he would have us accept.”—IPA, 1938 http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.fc.transfer.html

9. #5—Testimonial • Citing a qualified source/significant person to support one’s position (ex., “Just like President Reagan, I too support a strong military.”) http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.fc.testimonial.html

10. #6—PlainFolks • “By using the plain folks technique, speakers attempt to convince their audience that they, and their ideas, are ‘of the people.’ The device is used by advertisers and politicans alike.” (from http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.sa.plain.html)

11. #7—Bandwagon • The basic idea of the Band Wagon appeal is that "everyone else is doing it, and so should you.” http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.sa.bandwagon.html

12. #8—Fear “There are four elements to a successful fear appeal: • a threat, • a specific recommendation about how the audience should behave, • audience perception that the recommendation will be effective in addressing the threat, and • audience perception that they are capable of performing the recommended behavior” http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.sa.fear.html

13. Some other widely used propaganda techniques include: • Guilt Complex • Sex Appeal • Faulty Generalizations • Logical Appeal

14. How did the US Government use Propaganda to get the support of the American people in the war effort???

15. By using two major techniques: • #1) appeal to patriotism —love for one’s country • #2) appeal to one’s sense of fear, hatred, and prejudice…by demoralizing the enemy

16. By targeting specific audiences • Women

25. Actually…Canadian but too good to leave out!

28. Another target audience- • Patriotic Americans

34. What specific things did the US government want the American people to do in the war effort?

35. Buy WAR BONDS!!!

36. "Any Bonds Today?" Lyrics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpCmyPdXGMw The tall man with the high hat and the whiskers on his chinWill soon be knocking at your door and you ought to be inThe tall man with the high hat will be coming down your wayGet your savings out when you hear him shout "Any bonds today?"Any bonds today?Bonds of freedomThat's what I'm sellingAny bonds today?Scrape up the most you canHere comes the freedom anAsking you to buy a share of freedom todayAny stamps today?We'll be blestIf we all investIn the U.S.A.Here comes the freedom manCan't make tomorrow's planNot unless you buy a share of freedom today

37. First came the Czechs and then came the PolesAnd then the Norwegians with three million soulsThen came the Dutch, the Belgians and FranceThen all of the Balkans with hardly a chanceIt's all in the Book if only you lookIt's there if you read the textThey fell ev'ry one at the point of a gunAmerica mustn't be nextAny bonds today?All you giveWill be spent to liveIn the Yankee wayScrape up the most you canHere comes the freedom manAsking you to buy a share of freedom today

46. 2. Conserve materials/food!