propaganda information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause

PROPAGANDA

Information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some

cause

In other words . . . Let’s make the Germans look

bad• Huns – a Central Asian tribe legendary

for its ferocity (think Attila the Hun).

• A derogatory term for Germans.

• Use of the term seems to derive from a simple desire to characterize the Germans as expansionist barbarians.

American Use of Propaganda

• George Creel, former newspaperman, heads up the Committee on Public Information

• Appointed by Woodrow Wilson after US entry into war

• Used artists, writers, and speakers to “sell” the war to Americans

Propaganda Used to Engage Citizens

• Posters would use images and phrasing that would be familiar to the American public

• Posters would also be specific for groups of people when necessary

Red Cross

Used for Food and Fuel Conservation

Bond Drives – Raising Money

Espionage and Sedition

And also for Selective Service

Administration

THE DRAFT&

AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT

The Draft

•The Selective Service Act of May 1917 was established to draft young men for the military service

•Early on men age 21-31 were drafted – by late 1918 it extended to include men age 18-45

The Draft

•By November 1918 more By November 1918 more than 24 million had than 24 million had registered for the draftregistered for the draft

•From those a lottery From those a lottery selected selected 3 million to serve in the war3 million to serve in the war

Louis P. Starkweather was eventually Honorably

Discharged from the Army for Medical Reasons.

Courtney Nash Starkweather

• Company I, 3rd Chemical Battalion, U.S. Army

• Class of 1920 Columbia University School of Physicians and SurgeonsDies from the effects of

gasOctober 4, 1918

Germans in the US• Widespread Widespread

DiscriminationDiscrimination– Fired from jobsFired from jobs– Changed their Changed their namesnames

Schools stopped Schools stopped teaching German teaching German languagelanguage

– Physical and Physical and Verbal Attacks Verbal Attacks

Women in the War

•Filled a variety of roles in the war effort including caregivers (nurses) and home defense

•A small number worked in the signal corps (communications)

Telephone Operators

Navy Nurses aboard USS George Washington in 1918

Factory Factory WorkWork

Suffrage

• Wilson calls Wilson calls for Congress for Congress to approve to approve

the 19the 19thth Amendment!Amendment!

We have made partners of the women

in this war. Shall we admit them only to a

partnership of suffering and sacrifice

and toil and not to a partnership of right?

September 1918

African Americans in the War

•Could only serve in the Army Could only serve in the Army or Navyor Navy

•In the Navy, they could only In the Navy, they could only serve in the kitchen serve in the kitchen

•In the Army they were In the Army they were laborers, delivery laborers, delivery

personnel, and messengerspersonnel, and messengers

African Americans in the War

•Several regiments were Several regiments were loaned out to the French and loaned out to the French and saw combat!saw combat!

•The 369th Regiment or The 369th Regiment or “Harlem Hell Fighters”“Harlem Hell Fighters”

•191 days in combat191 days in combat

……more than any other American more than any other American unit!unit!

• Nearly 200 Nearly 200 members members

were were awarded awarded

medals for medals for bravery…bravery…

……by the by the French!French!

African Americans Post-WarAfrican Americans Post-War

• Enjoyed freedoms Enjoyed freedoms in France they could in France they could not enjoy in U.S.not enjoy in U.S.

• The efforts of these The efforts of these troops lead to a troops lead to a greater awareness greater awareness of inequalities in of inequalities in AmericaAmerica

• Civil Rights Civil Rights movements grow…movements grow…