Propaganda has been used since ancient Greece to deliberately spread information to help or harm groups. While initially not viewed as propaganda, the modern concept emerged during World War I when governments began systematically using media to promote their messages. During World War II, the United States, Germany, and Japan heavily employed propaganda to influence their citizens. Today, many countries including China and some in Europe continue to utilize propaganda techniques for political advantage.

1. A Short History of Propaganda

2. What is Propaganda? Propaganda is used for information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, or nation. Ideas are spread creatively through media in order to present a strong government message.

3. Origin of Propaganda Greeks were aware of their flaws and to address these problems, created propaganda, but propaganda at the time wasn’t viewed as “propaganda”.

4. Modernization of Propaganda The word itself came into common use in country as early as World War I. In World War II, the United States, Nazi Germany, even Japan started to vastly include propaganda in their viewpoints to further express their views upon their people.

5. Users of Propaganda 1914: Germans begin to include propaganda in their defense, as well as the United States. 1945: The Soviet Union begins implementing use of propaganda. 1942: Japan uses propaganda heavily during World War II. Present: China, The United States and some European countries use propaganda more frequently for advantage of their nations.

6. Examples Of Propaganda Money Posters

7. Works Citied Holocaust EncyclopediaN.p., May. Web. 11 Nov. 2009. <http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005202>. J. Ellul, Propaganda (1965, repr. 1973); T. C. Sorensen, The Word War (1967); T. J. Smith II, ed., Propaganda (1989). Townsend, Robert B. The G.I. Roundtable Series American Historical Association, 1996. Web. 9 Nov. 2009. <http://www.historians.org/projects/giroundtable/Propaganda/Propaganda4.htm>.