War Propaganda in the United States |
World War i
The sinking of the lusitania
The Lusitania had her maiden voyage in September of 1907. When being built the goal was to create the fastest liner in the world. The Lusitania was built to fulfill specific specifications that would allow her to go into government service if war broke out. The ship was fitted with ammunition stores and gun mounts on her decks. On May 1st, 1915, the Lusitania left New York and was headed for Liverpool. there was ammunition in her stores that was heading for the British war effort. This information was not known to the passengers but was most likely known by the Germans. On May 7th a German U-Boat fired a torpedo into the side of the ship and within eighteen minutes the ship sunk. 1,198 of the 1,959 passengers were killed and 114 of the dead were Americans. The sinking turned public opinion against Germany and enraged the American public. It became a symbol in military recruiting strategies in the United States and was one of the many reason why America joined the war. It was also the target of American propaganda and helped the American public support the war effort.
Below is a link to the short animation film by Winsor McCay titled The Sinking of the Lusitania
Below is a link to the short animation film by Winsor McCay titled The Sinking of the Lusitania
Creel committee
In the June of 1916 Thomas Gregory, the Attorney General for president Woodrow Wilson, pushed for members of the press to be found guilty for espionage and the limit of freedom of speech and press. By the beginning of 1917, joining the war seemed inevitable for the United States and military leaders began to push for the censorship of the press. Each time they advocated for censorship, Congress refused because it was a clear violation of the first amendment. Although joining the war was bound to happen, the government found that the declaration of war was the best way to get Congress to support their cause. George Creel, an advisor for Wilson, suggested that the press would control the information rather than institute formal censorship. Wilson agreed and on April 14th, 1917, The Committee on Public Information or the Creel Committee was created. A speakers Bureau was created that consisted of seventy-five thousand men who traveled around the country to rally support for the war. These men were told to say little about the atrocities being committed in the war. The Creel Committee made movies and wrote publications to evoke the public and generate support for the Americans against the Germans. The Creel Committee avoided formal censorship but they blacked out and did not include information that was not supportive of the war effort.
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Examples of Propaganda posters
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