Paper on The use of Propaganda and Nationalism in WW1

The context of World war 1 was one that facilitated the trial of all means of warfare that would seem to work out for the better. It was a period when countries were transitioning technology-wise as well as resource-wise. It was the period after the first smokeless gun powder had been invented for war, and therefore the status of war was elevating. It was also the first war where the media was used as a weapon in battle and that would include the various forms of propaganda. That does not entirely mean that there were no propagandas in the previous wars, but the way they were used in World war one was elevated. It comprised billboards, the media like electronic media, print media, and other methods that would reach the public widely. Due to the tension, some countries chose to observe the neutrality status and not engage in the war. Such a state was the United States. They followed a neutrality status for two years under Roosevelt's leadership until the tension going on with the war was no longer comfortable to turn a blind eye. The United States entered the war in 1917.

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British propaganda was increasingly disturbing. Therefore, America responded to it by establishing the Committee on Public Information, whose purpose was to regulate the news spread at the time of war. With time, the committee would soon use its power to be the medium that controlled the Americas' propaganda. The committee acted the medium that would then spread the propaganda in America against its opponents. The committee drew together a pool of mediums such as advertising, music, graphics, and audiovisuals. The head of the committee, George Creel, a journalist, played a significant part as he became the mastermind behind all the US government propaganda measures. Propaganda was used to influence the countries that remained neutral and increase the capacity of allies and keep their natives informed and attract their support by influencing their opinions. The propaganda took different forms according to the purpose which they were targeted to achieve.

America took advantage of the churning technology in electronic media such as songs, movies, documentaries, and films. The music industry embarked on streaming war-related songs whose lyrics were either so comic, heroic or sentimental, all aimed at influencing the public's opinion against the enemies. They went to the extent of mockery, especially of the Germans, which sought to fill the natives with the Germans' hatred and motivate their drive to participate in the war. The songs on the record include those by Irving Berlin and George Cohan. The film industry also took upon itself to further propagandas' spirit by producing several films and movies such as the famous Beast of Berlin, The Kaiser, and The Prussian cur. These aimed to establish deep hatred for the Germans by the natives of America and the audiences of such. They were played in fully packed cinemas and sold widely to attract as many allies as that would mean victory. Documentaries were also produced to educate the people on fighting and the estimated benefits that that would ensue. All these aimed at influencing the public opinion to join the battle.

Posters were also employed on a large scale, employing the talents of Joseph Pennell and Chandler Christy, who were the famous artists of the time. The signs were visually appealing, precise in their wording, and influential to the audiences. The US government mainly preferred posters because they had a vast audience capacity and the strategic location conveniences. The signs could be pinned on the walls of buildings, street poles, windows of people's houses, and workplaces. They were convenient as they could be reproduced in many languages and influence larger audiences. The war by America in World War 1 is said to have been sold out by posters because they contributed a great deal in popularizing the Americans' intent in the war and garnering support from their citizens and allies. People were easily influenced to raise the flag and support their country while others were touched to join the forces of their country in the fighting. The propagandas were just aimed at convincing the people that the war was; they were fighting for a just cause, and therefore there was need for the citizens and allies to back them up rather than sit back to watch. That was because many people were not convinced that there was a need to engage in the fighting. After all, they did not see the reason and therefore decided to maintain the neutrality status. America has been the newest addition to the war, needed to convince other allies and its people that there was every need to suppress the enemy's efforts for two years they had undermined. They would need to convince the people that they were justified to take part in the war. That was the prominent role that propaganda was meant to play.

On a gender basis, propaganda was also aimed at influencing women's participation in the war because of men's shrinking numbers on the battlefield. They were meant to encourage them to take part in the action and, on the other bit, to enable them to give out their sons and husbands to go to war. Most of the women posters comprised well-articulated images of women that would influence people at their littlest motives. The spirit of nationalism is as old as the war itself. The cause of the action itself was nationalism, which followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo. To be specific, American nationalism has been known to be one of the strongest and the most widely internationalized. This nationalistic spirit was also a weapon in the war, which was quite necessary to achieve the war's objectives. The context of America's position in the war was that it had been neutral for half the period of the war, and this could only be achieved when citizens themselves were in support of their country's move. On joining the war, the government had the deficiency of garnering support from its people, and therefore they had the liberty of using whichever method to convince the people. The propagandas were directed at people, and for them to work well on the people, nationalism was incorporated to persuade. The posters made were nationalistic in every sense; the media was manipulated to instill nationalism in the people and as a tool of persuasion. It was effectively achieved by using wording that implied the inhabitants to support their own country, as this was the nationalistic spirit needed to suppress the enemy. The propaganda that was spread as jingoistic, the government's communication was nationalist. The sole purpose was to instill the people with some sense of bitterness or love whatsoever that would drive them to support the war. Such messages included quotes like "join the war and support America" "Your country needs you."

When the euphoria had subsided, the country still needed to remind the people what they were fighting for and urge them to keep up with the spirit of nationalism to protect their victory and successes. They also needed material aid from the people, such as war loans, conservation of resources, and industrialization. The government employed iconic figures, either real heroes or mythologized figures, as an example to urge the people not to give up but stay vital for their countries like those 'successful heroes.' They also used the alternatives of national symbols and other symbols that would support nationalism and patriotism. The use of flags was widely employed where the people were urged to raise the Americas flag to keep those in the battlefield motivated and hopeful and expressed the love of the citizens to their beloved country. The government was also wise enough to duplicate coins, notes, clothing, and symbolic structures such as monuments and statues to promote nationalism. When people wore the dress in American nature or used the coins customized by the government, they felt indebted to pay allegiance to their country. Propaganda was also aimed to cool down the women's tension, wait in hope, weep, and support their husbands in the battlefield. Women served as motivation and reminder to their husbands in the war to fight hard and return to their wives and children, and therefore, nationalism was sparked in such a manner. Posters like 'What did you do in the great war daddy' were aimed at sparking the men's interest in the war so that they would not feel indebted to both their families and country for failing to fight in the war. Therefore, nationalism was held one of the most potent weapons applied in the war by the American front and the war participants.

Conclusion

The media had a significant impact on the war as it was the most effective method for spreading propaganda in all dimensions. However, the billboards and poster method were also as effective. The successes and failures of the war could be attributed to the use and disuse of the two most powerful weapons of propaganda and nationalism. It can be credited to the physical energy applied on the battlefield.

References

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Webster, G. R. (2011). American nationalism, the flag, and the invasion of Iraq. Geographical Review, 101(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1931-0846.2011.00069.x

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