Human Heritage: A World History

"Media Mission"

Introduction
During World War II, posters were used to promote the war effort. It seemed that small posters were everywhere, reminding people of the difficulties that U.S. troops were facing overseas. Created by both the government and by corporations, they conveyed social, economic, and political concepts. To view posters from World War II and read about their use and importance, go to the National Museum of American History Web site.

Destination Title: National Museum of American History

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Directions
Start at the National Museum of American History Web site.

• Click on the "Virtual Exhibitions" topic
• Scroll down to the bottom and click on the "Produce for Victory" topic.
• Browse through the site, taking notes as you go.
• Then answer the following questions.

1			What were some of the ideas that the posters tried to convey?
2			Why were posters considered a good form of communication during World War II?
3			How did posters try to change workers' and management's attitudes?
4			What did the slogan "beat the promise" mean?
5			The U.S. government used posters during WWII to inspire patriotism in every aspect of a citizen's life. Do you think that that kind of publicity would be effective today? On a separate sheet of paper, write an essay on how a poster campaign in schools, offices, and factories would affect Americans today.