The Great War America (1914-1919) - Introduction

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Great War America 1914–1919 Introduction The American administration, led by President Woodrow Wilson, was against American involvement in any foreign military engagements on the eve of World War I. However, as the conflict spread throughout Europe and the belligerents' total war tactics focused on transatlantic trade and travel, it became evident that the US would be unable to uphold its neutrality. Even still, there were differing views among the American people; many opposed the notion of US intervention and American casualties, regardless of the severity of the situation. George Bellows painted a series of canvases in 1918 with the goal of bolstering popular support for the war effort. His drawings showed the brutalities committed by the Germans throughout the war in graphic and deft detail, from toddlers being driven through with bayonets to torturers contentedly reclining as their victims suffered. Germans are seen in the picture above, Return of the Useless, removing ill or crippled labor camp inmates off a boxcar. Although these paintings aren't thought to be Bellows' most significant creative output, they were representative of the anti-German propaganda of the period. A large portion of this propaganda was funded by the US government, which was worried that many immigrants would favor the Central powers and oppose the American war effort. The Great War, commonly referred to as World War I, is seen as a turning point in world history that profoundly influenced the development of nations and communities. Under President Woodrow Wilson's direction, the United States staunchly supported a policy of neutrality when the war broke out in Europe in 1914. Wilson aimed to keep America out of the war raging over the Atlantic, driven by his belief in international diplomacy and the avoidance of foreign entanglements. But the very character of the war, with its extensive destruction and effects on transatlantic trade and travel, made it more and more difficult for the US to stick to its neutrality position. Wilson was initially opposed to US involvement in foreign wars, but as the war's savagery increased and its effects on US interests became apparent, the country's position had to change. It was becoming more and more obvious that the United States could not stay out of the war as it grew more intense and threatened to swallow up all of Europe. Wilson had fought for neutrality, but when the war's effects spread beyond Europe and started to impact American individuals and interests, those ideals were put to the test. The start of the European War sparked conflicting feelings among Americans. Some Americans fervently opposed any kind of involvement, while others were sympathetic to the situation of the belligerent nations and wanted to assist them. Concerns over the possible loss of American lives and American participation in European politics were sparked by the idea of American involvement in a far-off and seemingly distant battle. This division within American society was a reflection of the larger discussion over the country's place in the world and how much it should become involved in foreign wars. Artists and propagandists were crucial in influencing public opinion and gaining support for America's final admission into the war against this turbulent and contentious background. George Bellows was one such artist whose 1918 painting series sought to inspire public support for the war effort. Bellows captured the horrors the Germans inflicted on the world throughout the war, painting gruesome details and cruelty scenes with his rich and powerful images. He painted graphic depictions of brutality, such as children being impaled with bayonets and prisoners of war being subjected to horrible torture by their captors. "Return of the Useless," one of Bellows' most dramatic pieces, depicts a scenario in which German soldiers remove sick or disabled prisoners from a boxcar, showing the enemy's callousness and inhumanity. Bellows used his artistic expression to try to incite Americans' fury and anger in order to mobilize them to support the war effort and against the brutality of the Central Powers. Bellows' paintings may not have been his most well-received pieces of art, but they were effective propaganda pieces that fueled anti-German feeling and encouraged support for America's involvement in the war. Propaganda, in its artistic and nonartistic forms, was employed by many artists besides Bellows. Additionally, the US government was a major force in influencing public opinion and rallying support for the war effort. A coordinated propaganda operation was started by the government to demonize the enemy and mobilize support for the Allied cause, due to concerns over the possible impact of immigrant groups that were sympathetic to the Central Powers. This propaganda aimed to highlight the admirable goals that America was fighting for while demonizing the Germans and depicting them as merciless aggressors intent on gaining dominance over the world. Motivating Americans to support the war effort by appealing to their sense of patriotism was one of the main goals of this propaganda campaign. Propagandists aimed to bring Americans together in favor of the war, across socioeconomic, political, and ethnic divides, by highlighting the moral superiority of the Allied cause and the threat presented by the Central Powers. Propaganda specifically aimed at immigrant populations was intended to undermine whatever sympathy they might have had for their original homelands and instead play on their sense of devotion to their new nation. The American government's propaganda operations were complex, using a variety of media and communications techniques. The government employed speeches, movies, brochures, posters, and pamphlets to influence public opinion. These propaganda leaflets frequently evoked strong sentiments of patriotism and camaraderie among Americans by using emotionally charged imagery and words. They portrayed the Allies as the guardians of freedom and culture and the Germans as vicious and barbarous. Information suppression and control were two of the US government's most successful propaganda strategies. Publications, including periodicals and newspapers, were strictly regulated and controlled to guarantee that the public was only exposed to material that bolstered the war effort. To boost morale and support for the war, tales of bravery and sacrifice were emphasized while dissenting voices and anti-war views were silenced. Propaganda was essential in not just influencing public opinion but also in obtaining supplies and labor for the war effort. American citizens were urged by propaganda operations to save money, purchase war bonds, and enlist in the military. They encouraged Americans to make sacrifices for the greater good and provide their support to the war effort in whatever manner they could, appealing to their feeling of duty and patriotism. There was disagreement around the US government's propaganda activities, though. In the sake of patriotism, the administration was accused by critics of stifling dissent and influencing public opinion. Some contended that the propaganda effort fueled bigotry and hatred by demonizing the opponent and oversimplifying the realities of the conflict. Some questioned the ethics of swaying public opinion and defending military action in a foreign war through the use of media. Notwithstanding these objections, the propaganda campaign was mainly effective in galvanizing popular support for the war effort and assembling the forces required for victory. The United States' 1917 entry into World War I was a turning moment in the war, shifting the balance of power in the Allies' favor and accelerating its conclusion. The American government's propaganda campaigns had a profound impact on the history and culture of the country by influencing public opinion and bolstering support for America's involvement in the war.