Introduction
This essay probes to find out the different roles that propaganda undertook during WW2. America was a major global power in the 1940s. America was always a neutral party in the lead-up to and for the start of the war. It was not until the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 that America truly engaged itself in war. After this, it set up the Office of War Information(OWI) to help disseminate information for war. Posters, radio, newspapers, and films were used to convey patriotic feelings and threaten the opposition. America has always been a patriotic country based on strong emotions for freedom and the welfare of the country. This propaganda has always been part of the country’s cultural environment. The term propaganda has always been associated with the manipulation of information and the idea that masses of people are forced to think alike. However, did propaganda play the role of positive or negative influence? Or was it merely a sham to intimidate the opposition and uplift the Americans? Did it lead to the spread of false information that could harm the legitimacy of the government? In the end, it should be thought whether it was the best option for the inter-war period. The effects of propaganda will be analyzed in this essay, to make a judgment on its use in America in WW2. The involvement of the US in WW2 refers to stepping up the already present(previously) war efforts to side with the Allies. A real assessment of intimidation through propaganda should be done. To find out the effectiveness of this goal of American propaganda(against the Germans). In summary, did propaganda meet its aims which were intended to help in its engagement during the war?
Supporting Argument 1
American propaganda was used mostly for the empowerment of the people and for creating a positive atmosphere where an emotional response was invoked. One of the purposes of propaganda in America in WW2 was to uplift the people’s morale. After the aftermath of WW1 and the backdrop of the Great, Depression Americans were reluctant to take part in a disastrous affair like war. Having numerous people with such a mentality would require an apt way to inspire them to get back up from failure. Propaganda made them realize that fighting for their country was a noble cause. People overcame their grief and became confident to improve the war efforts and give it they are all. This resulted in men realizing their duties towards the countries and ramping up their involvement in the war. Throughout the war, at least 20% of the population was in the armed forces. An exponential increase from before the use of propaganda since late 1941. Ideas of optimism of victory in the war created an environment for citizens to boldly crush feelings related to defeatism. Americans worked toward unity and harmony. In times of war, such positivity helps to facilitate the war effort. The Uncle Sam posters, who seems to be nearly staring into your soul, made Americans feel that it was everybody’s duty to participate and contribute to the war effort. For instance, propaganda caused people to buy war bonds(i.e. debt securities issued by the government through which the military could be aided)which brought about a well-funded American army. The propaganda enabled people to be inspired to do the right thing and boost the war effort. Simply telling them to buy war bonds would not result in many buying them as it only yielded a small 2.9 percent after a 10-year maturity. Propaganda conveyed a patriotic message that spurred Americans to do their part. Thus when people did buy them they felt like they were contributing more to the war effort. Moreover, patriotic emotions were invoked. Fictional characters such as Captain America came about. It gave the people a person to trust, rely on, and at the same time work together with. America was united with a common goal to stop the Nazis and fight for freedom. Captain America punching Hitler in the face in the first issue of the comic empowered Americans and made them feel that there was a “messiah” that would lead America to its victory, an act of heroism for Americans to live up to. Patriotism(propaganda brought about) touched every American’s heart. Masculinity and woman empowerment were advocated to make both genders feel equally strong enough to play their role in the involvement of war. Prejudices were put aside through propaganda and everybody worked together. Propaganda also assured people of a progressive victory for America and ensured confidence and security among the people. Efficiently it utilized the emotions of the people. With the social prejudice against women gone, about 350000 of them served in the armed forces in WW2. The cultural resistance in the form of Rosie The Riveter uplifted the feminist morale. Even the women, who were considered to be the ‘weaker’ gender, worked in the production of goods and supported their men in war.
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Supporting Argument 2
Propaganda helped revive the economy. The OWI made available lucrative opportunities for companies if they chose to partake in the spreading of ‘information’ (propaganda in this case) Lend-Lease Act. Under the framework of this propaganda, the government could have more direct control over the economy. Initially, the private sector used to be involved in these economic policies however it turned out to be uncoordinated and poorly handled. As a result, propaganda was the stepping stone for the American government to take the reigns of the economy and to work together to coordinate corporate activities to reduce the impact of the after-effects of The Great Depression. Once in control, the government could advise the industry on how to tackle issues such as labor shortages. As a result, propaganda played the role of granting the government such powers so that they could increase the efficiency of the industries and make them more stable and strong for war. Industries would be generating the output, in terms of materials and even manpower, which would strengthen America in the war and therefore contribute to its involvement in the war. The government’s influence on the labor market provides guidelines for the market on how to operate during wartime. Propaganda ensured that there was a proper connection between labor supply and demand. As a result of a more systematic manner of handling economic-related issues. Public responses could be controlled to decrease public ruckus and opposition against wartime economic plans, thus ensuring a smooth sailing economic recovery for America. A previously weak organization War Advertising Council(WAC set in 1941)helped to enlist companies to get information, about the war, to the people. By June 1942 29% of the production of consumer goods before the war had been cut off. The WAC(propaganda branch)enlisted these companies for the spread of some manipulated information through sales campaigns. In turn, this would generate revenue for these companies. The companies used persuasive techniques to promote the government’s ideas in the form of the products they were selling, killing two birds with one stone. Source B shows a Walt Disney cartoon supporting the government’s cause.
Support Argument 3
Propaganda played a role in instilling fear, hatred, and suspicion towards the Axis Powers. Propaganda united the people against the enemies of the Axis Powers. Posters had dark shades that depicted a poor image of the enemies one in which they were the villains or devils. These menacing images would impress upon Americans that the opposition was to be defeated because they were the antagonistic party. The truth was that many in the armed forces resented war and changing their mindset would be the propaganda of Nazi brutality. The Nazis were shone in a bad light as they were shown to be carrying out disdainful acts. Propaganda played on Americans’ emotions and made them hate the Nazis and what they were doing. The text reads, “Radio Berlin.—It is officially announced:-All men of Lidice Czechoslovakia- have been shot: the women deported to a concentration camp: the children sent to appropriate centers—the name of the village was immediately abolished. Such an example of brutality by Nazis made the targeted audience detest the Nazis and in doing so, people found a strong desire to stop these atrocities by trying to eliminate them. As such, this hatred drove them to work harder in the war thus increasing the efficiency of the war. Because of this, the number of people enlisted in the army increased from 348,683 to 3,030,407 in 2 years. Thus propaganda’s evident effect was colossal and quick in strengthening the armed forces.
Support Argument 4
Propaganda also played a negative role as it to a certain extent restricted the freedom of speech and caused the spread of misinformation. America was based on the idea of liberty and propaganda was considered to be a manipulation of information and sometimes this could be done in the negative sense. Reading source A it can be seen that the OWI took things into its own hands and manipulated and gave the information at the wrong time. As a result, the true intentions of the Allies were not revealed to the people. Therefore the people were ill-informed and many Americans started going on the wrong path in war. They could not understand whether what they were being told about the opposition was even true or not. Moreover, the controlled manner of supplying rations was questionable and required justification. This shows that it was propaganda had dubiously handled the situation and there was an of how open the government was about the actual information given to the people. This would make people lose faith in the government as they see a lack of legitimacy in the involvement in the war. This resulted in people being reluctant to be involved in the war. Images of injured elderly and young people were censored. People who were accidentally killed were not mentioned. These terrible accidents went against the good image of America fighting to make the world a better place. Conclusion
In conclusion, propaganda did serve many roles in the involvement of America in WW2. There are more positive benefits to it. This shows that the propaganda had been used effectively to achieve the goal of stepping up the war's involvement. In the process, the slight negativity it brought about could be overseen as the false optimism eventually grew to patriotism and the fight for freedom. Propaganda could efficiently develop the economy and the people. This factor overpowers misinformation and freedom of speech. Also, propaganda’s purpose was to boost the war effort, which it did. In helping the Allies they prove themselves to be righteous. The bad side of propaganda was not so prominent as Americans were overwhelmed by revenge against Pearl Harbor and it was a sentimental incident for them which hurt their country’s pride. American propaganda was able to increase America’s involvement in the war in such a short period. Its ability to influence and bring about change is exceptional. The fact that American propaganda is shown in a patriotic manner shows that it was not forced upon the people. The national identity was mainly embedded into it, therefore making it so powerful and able to bring about many positive outcomes.
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