Title / Content Area:
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Grade Level:
Essential Question:
American Anti-Japanese Propaganda Posters World War II
Neil Loewenstern, Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy, Austin Independent School
District (TX)
11 –12
What variety of purposes were American propaganda posters created? How are the
Japanese portrayed in American propaganda posters and what affect might that have had on American attitudes towards the Japanese?
Contextual Paragraph: With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States entered the war against
Japan and Germany. Propaganda posters were created in order to recruit soldiers, sell war bonds, and motivate the nation to fight, sacrifice, and produce for the war effort.
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 1

Alaska Death Trap for the
Jap
1941-1943
Murdering Jap- Bataan
Death March
1944
Don’t Save His Face-
Battle for Production
1942
Stop and Get Your Free
Fag Bag
1941–1943
The Jap way- Cold-
Blooded Murder
1943
Remember Pearl Harbor
Crush Them!
1942 www.loc.gov/pictures/item
/98510121/ http://www.loc.gov/pic tures/item/90712749/ http://www.loc.gov/pic tures/item/90712739/ http://www.loc.gov/pic tures/item/98518714/ http://www.loc.gov/pic tures/item/96502730/ http://www.loc.gov/pict ures/item/95507985/
Salvage Scrap to Blast the Jap Dr. Seuss—Wipe that Sneer Off His Face!
1941? October 13, 1942
Dr. Seuss—Jap Alley
December 10, 1941
Dr. Seuss—Waiting for the Signal from Home
February 13, 1942 http://www.loc.gov/pictures/ item/98517448/ http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspoliti
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set c/Frame.htm
http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/ dspolitic/Frame.htm
http://libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/Fr ame.htm
2

Curriculum Connections
We begin my Contemporary Issues course with two readings on the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan at the end of WWII. The readings provide different perspectives as to whether the dropping of the bombs was necessary to end the war. We look at American war-time propaganda against the Japanese to further frame that debate. These propaganda posters also connect to later analysis of Cold War and War on Terror propaganda/media studies we do in the course.
Curriculum Standards
Connects to many of the U.S. history Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards relating to WWII and primary document analysis skills.
Content & Thinking Objectives
Students will analyze the techniques used in propaganda.
Students will draw conclusions about American attitudes towards the Japanese during WWII.
Inquiry Activities & Strategies
1.
Students go over “War-time Propaganda Techniques” handout.
2.
Students break into groups and look at propaganda posters and identify techniques used in each poster.
3.
Students present to the class their findings.
4.
Teacher leads a discussion on findings focusing on themes of racism, dehumanization, and revenge that are exacerbated by war.
Assessment Strategies
Teacher will check that students have identified correctly the propaganda techniques used in each poster.
Teaching with Primary Sources - Annotated Resource Set 3