Teaching Propaganda in the
US. History Classroom
Kevin Williams, Davis High School
Specific Lesson Focus: World War One
Rationale
• Propaganda exists!!
• Informs through
half-truths, scare
tactics, and
ambiguous language
• The Antidote?
• The Social Science
Classroom
• Teach our students
the techniques used,
and how to
recognize them.
These examples were found on the
Democratic and Republican National
Committee websites
Teaching Propaganda in the
US. History Classroom
1. 8 Techniques of Propaganda
2. See Examples of Propaganda in Modern Media
3. Look at Historical Examples and Discuss Outcomes
Name-Calling
• The name-calling technique links a
person, or idea, to a negative symbol.
• The propagandist hopes that you will
reject the person based on the name
rather than the evidence
Example: Commie, Terrorist, Socialist,
Fascist
Glittering Generalities
• The Glittering Generality device seeks to
make us approve and accept without
examining the evidence.
• The propagandist hopes that you will
accept the idea based on its connection
with a good word.
Example: civilization, democracy,
Christianity, freedom, hope
Euphemism
• The propagandist attempts to pacify the
audience in order to make an unpleasant reality
more palatable. This is accomplished by using
words that are bland and euphemistic.
• The propagandist hopes to soothe your fears by
using these words.
Example: Combat fatigue (instead of shell
shock”, The Peacekeeper (instead of nuclear
missile), Quiz instead of test or exam
• Obama administration stopped using
the “Global War on Terror” monikor of
the Bush Administration…instead
calling it “Overseas Contingency
Operation”.
• The Bush Administration sometimes
referred to “misinformation” where
others simply called it lies.
Transfer
• Transfer is a device by which the
propagandist carries over the authority,
sanction, and prestige of something we
respect and revere to something he would
have us accept.
• The propagandist wants your support by
using an image or phrase we already
respect.
Example: The cross to represent church
The flag to represent our nation and its ideals
Using Uncle Sam
Presidents and others like to link themselves to symbols that carry
positive transfer
Testimonial
• The use of a celebrity or other well
known person to support a cause that
they are not necessarily qualified to be
an expert on.
Example: Celebrity endorsements of
political candidates.
Martin Sheen, who played the President on the television show
The West Wing often speaks at anti-war rallies.
Plain Folks
• By using the plain-folks technique,
speakers attempt to convince their
audience that they, and their ideas,
are "of the people."
Examples: Politicians who try to look
like “everyday” people. Deemphasizes
their wealth, etc.
Bandwagon
• The basic theme of the Band Wagon appeal
is that "everyone else is doing it, and so
should you." Since few of us want to be left
behind, this technique can be quite
successful.
• The propagandist can use rallies, assemblies
to achieve the bandwagon effect.
• Trying to get you to do something based on
your “American” values, your church, the
ethnic group you identify with.
Bush’s Town Hall Meetings give the impression of a large group of
people agreeing with the important issues of the day.
Fear
• A propagandist who warns members of her
audience that disaster will result if they do
not follow a particular course of action is
using the fear tactic
• Example: Dick Cheney in the election of
2004
“If we make the wrong choice [elect Kerry],
then the danger is that we'll get hit again -that we'll be hit in a way that will be
devastating from the standpoint of the
United States…"
Propaganda Analysis
http://www.propagandacritic.com
• Propaganda exists all
around
• Social Studies classes
are the perfect places
to introduce
how
to
Briefly
review the
eight
recognize
techniques
of propaganda
propaganda
• By discussing the
eight techniques we
prepare students as
historians and citizens
Activity
WWI
Propaganda
Destroy This
Mad Brute
Which of the 8 propaganda techniques do you
see in “Destroy This Mad Brute?”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Name Calling
Glittering Generality
Euphemism
Transfer
Bandwagon
Testimonial
Plain Folk
Fear
WWI Propaganda
“Over There”
Written by George M. Cohan, performed by Nora Bayes with studio orchestra – July 1917
Johnnie, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun,
Johnnie show the Hun you're a son of a gun
Hoist the flag and let her fly, Yankee Doodle do or die
Pack your little kit, show your grit, do your bit
Yankees to the ranks from the towns and the tanks
Make your mother proud of you and the old Red White
and Blue
CHORUS:
Over there, over there, send the word, send the word,
over there,
That the Sammies are coming, the Sammies are coming,
The drums rum-tum-tumming ev'ry where
So pre-pare, say a prayer, send the word, send the word to
beware
We'll be over, we're coming over,
And we won't come back 'til it's over Over There!
Which of the 8 propaganda techniques do you
see and hear in “Over There”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Name Calling
Glittering Generality
Euphemism
Transfer
Bandwagon
Testimonial
Plain Folk
Fear
WWI Propaganda
For Home and Country
Which of the 8 propaganda techniques do you
see in “For Home and Country”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Name Calling
Glittering Generality
Euphemism
Transfer
Bandwagon
Testimonial
Plain Folk
Fear
WWI Propaganda
Sugar Means Ships
Which of the 8 propaganda techniques do you
see in “Sugar Means Ships”
1. Name Calling
2. Glittering
Generality
3. Euphemism
4. Transfer
5. Bandwagon
6. Testimonial
7. Plain Folk
8. Fear
Civil War Propaganda
“The Southern Confederacy a Fact”
from Library of Congress, 1861
World War Two Propaganda
“Waiting for the Signal From Home”
from Dr. Seuss Went to War
World War Two
Propaganda
“Don’t Let That Shadow
Touch Them”
Further Use…
• You can use this strategy as an
assessment tool:
• Show images and have students write a short
historical background
• Then students can assess the propaganda
technique used.