Patriotism Although America had hesitated to get involved in the war once it did public support was enormous Propaganda posters were also used in greater number than ever before encouraging support for the war ID: 580700
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Slide1
Support and Opposition to the WarSlide2
Patriotism
Although America had hesitated to get involved in the war, once it did public support was enormous
Propaganda posters were also used in greater number than ever before, encouraging support for the warSlide3
What is Propaganda?
I
deas
, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing
cause
(Merriam-Webster)
According to this definition and what you know of propaganda, do you think it is a positive or negative thing?Slide4
James Montgomery FlaggSlide5Slide6
Committee on Public Information
The Committee on Public Information (CPI) flooded the country with pro-war propaganda
It was a “conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses” –Edward
Bernays
(CPI staff)
It was possible to “sway the ideas of whole populations, change their habits of life, create belief, practically universal in any policy or idea.”
Foner
, Eric
Give Me Liberty,
781Slide7Slide8
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act of 1917 required men to register for the draft
The army went from 120,000 to 5 million men
All men must register with Selective Services when they turn 18
Women may soon be required to do so as wellSlide9Slide10
Public Support
The CPI was able to sway public opinion in favor of the war
The government partnered with industries to raise funds and collect supplies for the war
By 1918 the wealthiest Americans were paying 60% of their income to taxes
Many other Americans bought liberty bonds and worked to support the war in any way they couldSlide11Slide12Slide13Slide14
Native Americans in WWI
When America finally declared war, some of the very fist men to volunteer were Native men
Native Americans still did not have citizenship
Roughly 13,000 native men served in WWI about 20-30% of all native men
This was a higher percent than the total of all American men who servedSlide15
Native American Code TalkersSlide16
Patriotism
“Democracy” and “freedom” become key words and ideas for supporting the war
To encourage American support for the war the CPI demonized the Germans and the Kaiser calling them “
H
uns”
It gave Americans the idea that they were fighting to preserve freedom and democracy in the worldSlide17Slide18Slide19Slide20
Opposition
There were still many that disagreed with the war and America’s involvement
How do you think they would be seen by the rest of the country?Slide21
The Espionage and Sedition Acts
Patriotism became synonymous with support for the war and government
Anyone who was opposed to the war or disagreed with the government was seen not only as not patriotic but dangerous and evil
The Espionage Act of 1917 was the first time since John Adams’s presidency in 1798 that America made it a crime to do or say anything that might impede military successSlide22
The Espionage and Sedition Acts
Under the Espionage Act newspapers and magazines that were critical of the government were prevented from being mailed
Socialist, who were some of the most vocally against the war, were the major targets
In 1918 the Sedition Act was created making any spoken or written words opposed to the war or government a crime Slide23Slide24
Eugene V. Debs
In 1918 under the Sedition Act Eugene V. Debs was arrested and convicted under the Espionage Act when he made an anti-war speech
He spoke to the court saying that it was part of the American identity and freedom to speak out against tyranny and the government when needed
Debs was sentenced to ten years in prison (In Germany a man who was convicted of a similar “crime” was sentenced to only four years)Slide25
Eugene V. Debs in Prison
Debs
still ran
for president while in prison and got 900,000
votes
When the war ended Wilson refused to commute
Debs’s
sentence
Debs remained in prison until 1921 when President Harding finally released himSlide26
What happened to Germans in America?
They were discriminated against
They were usually forced to stop speaking German
Many of their shops and businesses were forced to close
At least one German man was lynched and many others tarred and feathered
Most German classes were either cancelled or out-lawed