The following is a sample opening of a body paragraph: Dulce et Decorum Est describes the harsh conditions that the soldiers experience whilst fighting at war. They are exhausted, ‘bent [over] double’ and ‘coughing like hags’, demonstrating the terrible effects that fighting on war had on these soldiers during combat. Furthermore, the severe conditions can be seen through the fact that men had to carry on fighting, even when ‘asleep’ and ‘blind’, inferring that there was no escape for them.
Now that we have looked at different types of propaganda and some different posters from World War I, it’s your turn to create your own propaganda poster. You can choose whatever type of propaganda you want to base your poster on.
Start with deciding what you want to influence people to believe.
Do you want them to believe that the war is a good/bad thing?
Do you want them to sign up to be a soldier?
Do you want to convince the women to help?
Do you want them to be afraid of the enemy?
Do you want to convince them of rationing food?
Or something else you want them to believe about the war.
Then try to think of a catchy slogan or saying or a symbol for your poster.
Then draw out a picture to represent what you want people to believe that goes along with your slogan, saying or symbol.
Additional ideas
Food Administration created in August 1917 by Stanford University trained engineer Herbert Hoover.
War Industries Board – the central agency for mobilizing wartime industry.
American Federation of Labor – traded labor’s support of the war for a voice in government policy, specifically a spot on the National Defense Advisory Commission. You may focus specifically into the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), Teamsters, or the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union.
Victory Gardens – also known as war gardens these were encouraged to be planted by the national government so that individuals could provide their own fruits and vegetables during a time of rationing during the war.
United States Employment Service which placed 4 million workers in war jobs.
National War Labor Board which existed for 18 months during WW1.
Women and the war effort – how did women take advantage of the wartime opportunities? How did they participate in the war?