Country Buy War World War I

Analytical Assignment on World War I:

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Background:Patriotic posters have proven to serve as powerful tools of motivation and propaganda, especially in times of war.During World War I, war posters were heavily employed by the U.S. not only to “sell” the war but to win it.These posters were usually simple with very little writing.The goal was to provoke an emotional response and even a call to action through the visual imagery in the poster.

A)Reading Assignment:The following World War I posters were published between 1917 & 1918 for

the U.S. war effort. “Read” these posters (Helpful Hints:Don’t just focus on the words.Look at the large and small details of the art and think about why the artist thought they were important to include.Look at the eyes of those depicted:are they inviting, challenging, threatening, etc.):

• “Gee!! I wish I were a man, I’d join the Navy Be a man and do it – United States Navy recruiting station” by Howard Chandler Christy: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.40824/?co=wwipos
• “I want you for U.S. Army: nearest recruiting station” by James Montgomery Flagg:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsc.03521/
• “Destroy this mad brute Enlist – U.S. Army” by Harry R. Hopps:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ds.03216/
• “The Navy needs you! Don’t read American history – make it!” by James Montgomery Flagg:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g08890/
• “Can vegetables, fruit, and the kaiser too–Write for free book to National War Garden Commission, Washington, D.C.” by J. Paul Verrees:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g10671/
• “Joan of Arc saved France–Women of America, save your country–Buy War Savings Stamps” by Haskell Coffin:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g09551/
• “Join!Yesterday –today – always—The greatest mother” by Lawrence Wilbur:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g07766/?co=wwipos

B)Writing Assignment:Select 3 of these posters and answer the following questions for each one (Note:When making an argument, you will often need to describe an aspect of the image in detail to serve as the source support.Do not use outside sources.):

• What is the purpose of the poster?
• What response is the poster meant to provoke?
• To whom is the poster trying to appeal?

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A)Your Analytical Assignment should be at least 350 words in length.Please use complete sentences.In your answer to each question, you must provide source support directly from the poster you are analyzing

• Each statement (argument) that you make must be directly supported with evidence from the source.Example:Columbus’s motives for conquest were:your argument.According to Columbus, these new lands offered Spain:“your source support” (Columbus).DO NOT use any other resources to answer these questions—only use the assigned primary source documents.
• For citation purposes, put the artist’s name in parenthesis (in this case, Christy, Flagg, Hopps, Verrees, Coffin, or Wilbur).You must give credit to the artist when you quote and also when you paraphrase.
• Consult Rubric for additional expectations for the Analytical Assignment.