Carrie L. Kennedy American Studies/US History
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Transcript of Carrie L. Kennedy American Studies/US History
Home Front Home Front PropagandaPropaganda::
How the US Government Got the American People to Support the War Effort
in World War IICarrie L. Kennedy
American Studies/US History
What is What is PropagandaPropaganda??
• 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.”
Plain English, please!
• Propaganda is mass persuasionmass persuasion— spreading a message to convince
someone or a group of people to do something or to believe something
How do we do this?• There are some basic techniques
that the Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA) has “identified” for us to use & evaluate:
www.propagandacritic.com/articles/intro.ipa.html
#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)
#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)
#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
#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
#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
#6—Plain Folks
• “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)
#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
#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
Some other widely used propaganda techniques include:
• Guilt ComplexGuilt Complex•Sex AppealSex Appeal
• Faulty Generalizations• Logical Appeal
How did the US Government use PropagandaPropaganda to get the
support of the American people in the war effort???
By using two major techniques:
• #1) appeal to patriotismpatriotism—love for one’s country
• #2) appeal to one’s sense of fearfear, hatredhatred, and prejudiceprejudice…by demoralizing the enemy
By targeting specific audiences
•WomenWomen
Actually…Canadian but too good to leave out!
•Patriotic Patriotic AmericanAmericanss
Another target Another target audience-audience-
What specific thingsspecific things did the US government want the
American people to do in the war effort?
1. Buy WAR BONDSWAR BONDS!!!
"Any Bonds Today?" Lyricshttp://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 in
The 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 freedom
That's what I'm sellingAny bonds today?
Scrape up the most you canHere comes the freedom an
Asking you to buy a share of freedom today
Any stamps today?We'll be blestIf we all investIn the U.S.A.
Here comes the freedom manCan't make tomorrow's plan
Not unless you buy a share of freedom today
First came the Czechs and then came the PolesAnd then the Norwegians with three million soulsThen came the Dutch, the Belgians and France
Then all of the Balkans with hardly a chanceIt's all in the Book if only you look
It's there if you read the textThey fell ev'ry one at the point of a gun
America mustn't be next
Any bonds today?All you give
Will be spent to liveIn the Yankee way
Scrape up the most you canHere comes the freedom man
Asking you to buy a share of freedom today
2. Conserve materials/food!
What What propaganda techniquespropaganda techniques do do you you see being used?see being used?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsBG34TSJJ4