Posters of Persuasion: World War II Propaganda Posters and the American Public

When the Second World War began in September 1939, Americans were divided over whether to join the war effort. It wouldn't be until the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 that the United States would be thrust into World War II. Once U.S. troops were sent to the front lines, it became clear that the United States would need more than guns, tanks, and bombs to win this war. Words, posters, and films would wage a constant battle for the hearts and minds of the American citizenry just as surely as military weapons engaged the enemy.

Hundreds of illustrators were put to work to create posters that would rally war support in the United States, while citizens were urged to purchase war bonds and take on factory jobs to support production needs for the military. As men were sent to battlefields, women were asked to step up and take on jobs as riveters, welders and electricians. To maintain resources for the war effort, posters called for people to carpool to save on gas, warned against wasting food and urged people to collect scrap metal to recycle into military materials.

While many posters presented positive patriotic messages, some used fear to rally support for the Allied side and warned against leaking information to spies. Meanwhile, other graphic posters depicted a blood-thirsty Adolf Hitler and racist imagery of Japanese people with sinister, exaggerated features. Today, the posters offer us a peek into the nation's state of mind during World War II and they show us how the U.S. government used an aggressive but successful propaganda campaign with clearly articulated goals and strategies to fuel public support for the war.

Scroll down to see some of the many propaganda posters created during the Second World War: