The meaning of propaganda during World War I Essay

The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history (GoodReads), was a quote that George Orwell, a once famous author, used to describe the uses and effects of propaganda. In relation to World War 1, many countries that were involved in the fighting had to gain support from its citizens in order to fund the war effort. By using propaganda, these countries were able to gain support through its citizens and to fight battles due to the increase in support of the military. Governments in the war devoted a multitude of resources and a huge amount of effort to produce newspapers, books, and cartoons to help opinionate society and sway the general public to fight for a stance. World War 1 became an era in which propaganda became pervasive among society and was used as a weapon for countries at war.
Many historical events led to the development of propaganda in the United States. One event that led to the production of propaganda in the US was when the US joined the war effort. After the Sussex Pledge, a pledge made by Germany in which they would not sink merchant ships without warning, the USs chance for war diminished but the Germans disobeyed that oath and continued sinking down merchant ships without warning and this ultimately led the Americans into the Great War. Also, another event that infuriated the Americans and led the US into the war was the Zimmerman Note. Arthur Zimmerman, a German foreign secretary, sent a coded message to the German embassy in Mexico (Grant 213). The ambassador was instructed to offer Mexico a military alliance in the event of war between Germany and the US and if Germany won, then they would reward Mexico with Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona (Grant 213). The message was intercepted by the British and was given to the Americans. This message angered the Americans and also pushed America to join the war effort. These events made propaganda spread throughout the United States thus allowing propaganda to exist in America.

During World War 1, the US government, President Woodrow Wilson, and George Creel used propaganda to help the US for the war effort. Wilsons first term started with the ideal of nonintervention of the war, but for his reelection in 1916, Wilson continued with the emphasis of peace and his publicists used the slogan  The man who kept America out of the war( Grant 214). However, Wilson and the government were well aware of the imminent situation and knew that Wilsons role in America would change. His role reversal began on April 2, 1917 when he requested Congress for a declaration of war. After the declaration of the war, Wilson created the Committee of Public Information (CPI), a government agency that sought to shape public opinion in support of the war through newspapers, pamphlets, speeches, films, and other media, in which he set a journalist, George Creel, as its leader.