Explore the Strategy
Apply the Strategy
You will now have the opportunity to apply this strategy by comparing World War I recruitment posters with a set of posters from the World War II era.
- Step 1:
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In order to form an argument about the approaches taken during a specific time period, you will need to be familiar with the time period in question. Take some time to research or refresh your knowledge about the changing values and cultural norms in American society, laws, immigration and population changes, foreign influences, economic influences, and the political powers during the WWII era.
- Step 2:
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Now, look at the following recruitment posters from World War II.
- Step 3:
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Answer the following poster evaluation questions to determine the posters' point of view, goals and purpose, and relative effectiveness:
- Is there a portrayal of the enemy in the poster, and if so, how is the enemy portrayed? Why do you think the government chose to do this?
- What emotion(s) does the poster attempt to appeal to (fear, duty, loyalty, patriotism, etc.)?
- Does the poster specifically attempt to address and ameliorate any particular anti-intervention argument, or does it simply support an intervention point of view?
- What important information is left out of this poster for the potential recruit? How would this information or message have been in conflict with the recruitment goals of the poster? Would this information have been available to the recruit through other sources? If so, where?
- What aspects of these posters make them most effective for their time? What aspects would make them perhaps less effective in another time period during another war?
- Step 4:
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After you've completed your analysis, draw some conclusions about why certain choices were made in the sets of posters from different eras. How are they different? How are they the same? Discuss with your colleagues or write down your reflections in your journal.