During World War 1, all nations involved used propaganda posters to justify their involvement, recruit soldiers, and raise money and resources. Posters were an effective medium as television and widespread radio access did not yet exist. Governments focused propaganda efforts on raising money through posters that appealed to citizens' emotions. Propaganda techniques included name-calling, card stacking, bandwagon, testimonials, portraying spokespeople as plain folks, transferring approval from respected things, and using glittering generalities without evidence.

1. Propaganda in World War One
Propaganda in World War One

2. What is Propaganda?
What is Propaganda?
• Propaganda
Propaganda is a specific type
is a specific type
of message presentation
of message presentation
aimed at serving an agenda.
aimed at serving an agenda.
At its root, the denotation of
At its root, the denotation of
propaganda is 'to propagate
propaganda is 'to propagate
(actively spread) a philosophy
(actively spread) a philosophy
or point of view'.
or point of view'.
• The most common use of the
The most common use of the
term (historically) is in political
term (historically) is in political
contexts; in particular to refer
contexts; in particular to refer
to certain efforts sponsored by
to certain efforts sponsored by
governments or political
governments or political
groups. (Wikipedia)
groups. (Wikipedia)

3. Why do we use Propaganda?
Why do we use Propaganda?
• Each of the nations which
Each of the nations which
participated in World War
participated in World War
One from 1914-18 used
One from 1914-18 used
propaganda posters.
propaganda posters.
• They used posters to:
They used posters to:
– justify their involvement to
justify their involvement to
their own populace
their own populace
– As a means of recruiting
As a means of recruiting
men
men
– A way to raise money and
A way to raise money and
resources to sustain the
resources to sustain the
military campaign.
military campaign.
– To urge conservation
To urge conservation

4. Why Posters?
Why Posters?
• Television had not yet
Television had not yet
been invented
been invented
• Not everyone owned
Not everyone owned
or had access to a
or had access to a
radio
radio
• Posters were the
Posters were the
most effective means
most effective means
of getting a message
of getting a message
across
across

5. Government Support
Government Support
• Quite often propaganda is
Quite often propaganda is
connected with negative
connected with negative
emotions
emotions
• During the Great War the
During the Great War the
governments needed
governments needed
money for the war effort
money for the war effort
so they focused their
so they focused their
efforts on posters aimed
efforts on posters aimed
at raising money from
at raising money from
citizens for the war effort
citizens for the war effort

6. Propaganda uses Seven Tricks to get
Propaganda uses Seven Tricks to get
their message across
their message across
• Name Calling
Name Calling:
:
hanging a bad
hanging a bad
label on an idea,
label on an idea,
symbolized by a
symbolized by a
hand turning
hand turning
thumbs down;
thumbs down;

7. Card Stacking
Card Stacking
– The Propagandist uses
The Propagandist uses
this technique to make
this technique to make
the best case possible
the best case possible
for his side and the
for his side and the
worst for the opposing
worst for the opposing
viewpoint by carefully
viewpoint by carefully
using only those facts
using only those facts
that support his or her
that support his or her
side of the argument
side of the argument
while attempting to
while attempting to
lead the audience into
lead the audience into
accepting the facts as
accepting the facts as
a conclusion.
a conclusion.

8. Band Wagon
Band Wagon
- Propagandists use
- Propagandists use
this technique to
this technique to
persuade the
persuade the
audience to follow
audience to follow
the crowd. This
the crowd. This
device creates the
device creates the
impression of
impression of
widespread support.
widespread support.
It reinforces the
It reinforces the
human desire to be
human desire to be
on the winning side.
on the winning side.

9. Testimonial
Testimonial
• Propagandists use this
Propagandists use this
technique to associate a
technique to associate a
respected person or
respected person or
someone with experience
someone with experience
to endorse a product or
to endorse a product or
cause by giving it their
cause by giving it their
stamp of approval hoping
stamp of approval hoping
that the intended
that the intended
audience will follow their
audience will follow their
example.
example.

10. Plain Folks
Plain Folks
– Propagandists use
Propagandists use
this approach to
this approach to
convince the
convince the
audience that the
audience that the
spokesperson is
spokesperson is
from humble
from humble
origins, someone
origins, someone
they can trust and
they can trust and
who has their
who has their
interests at heart.
interests at heart.

11. Transfer
Transfer
– a technique used to carry
a technique used to carry
over the authority and
over the authority and
approval of something we
approval of something we
respect and revere to
respect and revere to
something the
something the
propagandist would have
propagandist would have
us accept. Propagandists
us accept. Propagandists
often employ symbols
often employ symbols
(e.g., waving the flag) to
(e.g., waving the flag) to
stir our emotions and win
stir our emotions and win
our approval.
our approval.

12. Glittering Generality
Glittering Generality
– Propagandists employ
Propagandists employ
vague, sweeping statements
vague, sweeping statements
(often slogans or simple
(often slogans or simple
catchphrases) using
catchphrases) using
language associated with
language associated with
values and beliefs deeply
values and beliefs deeply
held by the audience
held by the audience
without providing supporting
without providing supporting
information or reason. They
information or reason. They
appeal to such notions as
appeal to such notions as
honor, glory, love of
honor, glory, love of
country, desire for peace,
country, desire for peace,
freedom, and family values.
freedom, and family values.