world war 1 propaganda

							                     World War One Propaganda
                      Christine Colihan and Amy Vitcusky

Lesson Description: This lesson will allow students to analyze different
propaganda posters that were created during World War One. Students will be
able to distinguish between what is factual information and what is
interpretation.

Grade Level: 11th

Time Required: One 45-minute class

Benchmark Addressed: This lesson will address Standard 2(b) (Primary and
Secondary Sources) Students will examine and analyze primary and secondary
sources in order to differentiate between historical facts and historical
interpretations. Students will analyze different propaganda posters from
World War One. Students will be distinguishing between how each poster uses
facts and interpretation to relay messages about the citizens role in World War
I.

Essential Question Addressed: Why might facts be distorted when organizing a
country to support a national crisis?

Enduring Understanding: Students will understand that propaganda is a tool
that can be employed for many different reasons. Propaganda can be especially
useful during a national crisis. Students will understand that although there
may be factual information in a piece of propaganda, they may be distorted to
rally citizens of a country to a cause.

Materials:
Handout One: America and World War I Notes
Handout Two: Types of Propaganda
Handout Three: Propaganda Assignment
Procedures:
   1. Lecture notes on America entering World War I. Students should at
      least have prior knowledge as to what the European causes of World War
      One were.
   2. Ask students what propaganda is. Ask them to give specific examples of
      propaganda they see today (political commercials, posters, internet sites)
   3. The actual definition of propaganda is: efforts to spread specific biased
      opinions or beliefs.
   4.
   5. Handout information sheet on propaganda- students will be filling this
      chart in as they examine specific propaganda posters
   6. Tell students now they are going to look at different propaganda posters
      from World War I and complete the chart
   At the end of this activity, discuss the propaganda answers and as an
   assessment students will be responsible for creating a propaganda poster,
   from the perspective of either a German, Russian, English, American or
   French and explain on the back the purpose of the poster, facts within the
   poster and interpretation within the poster.




Debrief:
1. Lead a discussion of the answers from the propaganda activity. After they
have completed the propaganda activity individually. Use think pair share for
students to discuss and compare their answers and then come back together to
talk about the answers and how effective the different posters would have
been during World War I.




Assessment:
  1. For homework tell students they need to create a propaganda poster from
the perspective of either a German, Russian, English, American or French point
of view for World War One and explain on the back the purpose of the poster,
facts within the poster and interpretation within the poster
Handout One:

  I.    American and World War One
        A. 1914-America is neutral
        B. 1915-1917- conflicts between the USA and Germany results in USA
           joining allies in 1917, but don’t become a major fighting force until
           Spring 1918
                1. Unrestricted submarine warfare
                      a.) US believed not warning of an attack was uncivilized
                          on Germany’s part
                      b.) May 1915- British liner Lusitania torpedoed by German
                          U-Boat- 128 Americans are killed. President Wilson
                          sends a warning but Germans will continue to surprise
                          attack
                2. Zimmerman Telegram- intercepted by England, Germany
                    wrote to Mexico asking for help in war and in return would
                    get back lands lost to USA
                3. Allied Propaganda- made Germans out to be evil
        C. President Wilson asks Congress to declare war on the Central
           Powers- April 1917
                1. Russia (USSR) leaves World War One after Russian
                    Revolution (1917) early in 1918
                2. America sends 3 million soldiers to Europe (draft
                    enforced) called “doughboys”
                3. USA- 114 casualties
        D. American Homefront
                1. Government needed money
                      a.) taxes raised
                      b.) liberty bonds
                2. New government agencies
                      a.) Fuel Administration, gasless days, daylight savings
                          time
                      b.) Food Administration; meatless days, wheatless days,
                          food administration
                3. Anti-German propaganda
                      a.) “Hate the Hun” liberty burgers
                      b.) Censorship of anything un-American’
Handout Two-Fact vs Interpretation

Definitions:

    1. Fact- something that exists or occurs, a piece of information that can be
       proven.
    2. Interpretation- To understand according to individual belief or
       judgement.

Poster   Purpose of         Facts within poster    Interpretations within
Letter   Poster             and explanation        poster explain why
                                                   It should be viewed as
                                                   interpretation
A




B



C



D



E



F



G



H
Amy Vitcusky and Christine Colihan World War I Propaganda

Handout Three: Propaganda Assignment                     HLP Part II

For each of the following propaganda posters, complete the following chart.

A.




B.
Amy Vitcusky and Christine Colihan World War I Propaganda




C.




D.
Amy Vitcusky and Christine Colihan World War I Propaganda
Amy Vitcusky and Christine Colihan World War I Propaganda




F.
Amy Vitcusky and Christine Colihan World War I Propaganda
G.




H.
Amy Vitcusky and Christine Colihan World War I Propaganda