American Patriotism During World War One - Essay Example

? American Patriotism during World War One al Affiliation: American Patriotism during World War One After the US entered the World War 1 in 1917, the federal government took an unprecedented task in stimulating patriotism. The major way in which the federal government described and created patriotism during World War 1 was through the establishment of the Committee on Public Information. This committee was created to establish and provide what can be referred to as propaganda (information) that could encourage citizens to support the war. The Committee on Public Information gathered civic support for the war by establishing an army of 75,000 Four-Minute Men speakers according to Betts (2002). The army provided concise stirring and patriotic speeches in the local communities. The information had both positive and negative effect on patriotism. On one hand, it persuaded people to identify with America and think that, their country was doing the right thing. On the other hand, the information demonized those who opposed the war. Among other things showing American patriotism is the Espionage Act of 1917. The act recommended stiff penalties to those who declined to work in the American armed forces during the war, helped the enemy or distributing information against the war. The Sediction Act was also enacted making it illegal to engrave or publish anything that criticized the government, the army or the constitution on the basis of the war. As a result, many people ended up being convicted by the law for violating these acts as they were considered unpatriotic. All these acts were created in an attempt to create and define patriotism due to the World War 1. The United States wanted to prove that it was a world power thus, the need to make the people invest their efforts in the war. The only way the government could do this is by increasing people’s patriotism to the country. Therefore, being a good American was defined by how one was a good supporter of the war. President Wilson persuaded various ethnic representatives of ethnic groups to show their commitment to the war, during the July celebrations. However, patriotism sometimes extended its cause, as zealots were used in measuring individual loyalty based on nationality and ethnicity. For instance, some communities barred teaching of German language in government schools; hence, German Americans were irregularly targets of mob violence. Those Americans who opposed the government’s participation in the war or condemned president’s administration strategies faced challenges to their patriotism. They also risked being convicted or imprisoned based on the Sedicition and Espionage Acts. Even at the end of the war, any patriotic Americans became worried due to the threatened homeland security resulting from the radical ideas adopted, hence, the red scare. During World War 1, passionate patriotism was widespread in the United States. It was as a result of the patriotism, that the red scare took place. During this war, Armistice was performed in 1918 and around nine million people were employed in war industries as suggested by Lorini (1999). Other four million worked in the armed forces hence this shows how people were being patriotic. The Americans showed their patriotism in two main ways during the World War 1. First they showed patriotism by sending sixteen million soldiers to fight in the war. In order to achieve this number of fighters the government had to create a sense of patriotism among the citizens. This patriotism was created through circulation of information (propaganda) which was either correct or not. This was aimed at creating the citizens’ interest in their country hence the willing to fight for it. Secondly, there were also many companies which produced wartime materials. The American government established many companies which ensured sufficient supply of fire arms used by the soldiers during the World War 1. Many people including women who wanted to proof patriotic to the country participated in these companies and the in the war as well. The use of propaganda posters was the most effective way the government could encourage their citizens to show their patriotism and participation in the war. The propaganda provided the people with the information which motivated them to support the war, and maintain their morale to participate. However, issues which could reduce the patriotism were kept secret and not included in the posters. Each poster was designed in a way to encourage Americans to show their patriotism in undertaking particular actions. As a result the posters addressed various issues which would be settled through patriotism. These included: Military personnel shortages: men were encouraged through poster to participate in the war while women were encouraged to participate by transporting arms to Europe. Hence, patriotism was the key idea of these posters. Military equipment shortages: posters motivated Americans to show their patriotism by purchasing government bonds and securing loans so that the income gained could be used to buy weapons for the war. Military injuries: posters encouraged Americans to give cash to Red Cross and volunteer in supporting the war as nurses and care takers hence portraying their patriotism. Labor shortages: women in the posters were conveyed as important to the war as they participated in driving tractors and also operated telephone exchanges. Similarly, this showed how patriotic the women were, in supporting the World War 1. Food shortages: those Americans living at home were encouraged to maintain constant food supply and not to waste it, hence, portraying their patriotism. Throughout the World War 1, people in the United States and all over the World were more patriotic than before and even to-date. They strongly identified themselves with their own countries. America has the history of true patriotism from one of its citizens that is, Patrick Henry. This is proclaimed by his words during World War 1”Give me Liberty or give me death” according to Alexander (2004). He was a true patriot among Americans as he preferred to die rather than not live freely in America. Moreover, other patriotic Americans printed posters which portrayed message of their feelings for the country and which motivated others to identify with the country. Similarly during World War 1, people’s attitude to the American flag became a check of patriotism. This was depicted by forcing those who were suspected of supporting communism and anarchism to kiss the flag. Thus, those who agreed to kiss the flag were regarded as being patriotic. During this period, the art/works of patriotism were exhibited allover the United States. In the view of others, the need for patriotism set the basis of propaganda during the World War 1. For instance, the Flag of the United States was exhibited across the country for advertisement of patriotism. Hence, this allowed the citizens to feel patriotic in every place they went. Similarly, loyalty to the country also flooded; the American citizens believed that the United States is superior. This led to extreme pride among the American people hence raising the level of patriotism to their country. The patriotism of Americans during the World War 1 was described in their eyes, the education and by the political parties according to DeBauche (1997).Before the World War 1, however, the American flag was used for advertisement as opposed to during the war when it was used as a test of patriotism. Those who believed in being patriotic to their country supported it in all its endeavors during the war. They supported both the economic system and the administration policies which governed the war. For instance, the American Protective League helped the department of justice in discovering German supporters, countering the radicals’ actions and discovering the antiwar activists. To the African-Americans, their chance to participate in the World War 1 gave them an opportunity to proof their patriotism. As a result, they believed that this will help enhance their survival in America through achieving equal opportunities and equal treatment as the white Americans. However, only a few of the African American were involved in these war and most of them were placed at the borders. Despite this racism, those African American who managed to participate in the war emerged as being equally patriotic, and heroic as their white Americans counterparts. The World War 1 led to a dramatic shift in African Americans’lives. This can be attributed to increase in patriotism among them. The federal government during the World War 1 was lacking coercive powers do deal with countries which were subdivided by the war. The period following world war1 was marked by declining spirit of cooperation that had prevailed between capital and labor. This can be attributed to the cooperative condition brought about by the administration of President Wilson as suggested by Sondhaus (2011). The spirit of cooperation declined following the war effect. Thus the citizens, who were amenable to the president’s propaganda, identified the labor activists’ voices as being connected with subversive elements that had permeated the positions of organized labor. Conclusively, the America’s involvement in the world war1 led to a drastic change among the nations. It affected the country in different ways including their homes, communities and at the global level. For instance, hatred towards German- Americans heightened due to their disloyal to the American patriotism. After the war, nations were called upon to show their patriotism by rebuilding nations which were destroyed during the war. References Alexander,J.G. (2004). Ethnic pride, American patriotism: Slovaks and other new immigrants in the interwar era. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Betts,G. (2002). The Twilight of Britain: Cultural Nationalism, Multiculturalism, and the Politics of Toleration. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. DeBauche,L.M. (1997). Reel Patriotism: The Movies and World War I. Madison: Univ of Wisconsin Press. Lorini,A. (1999). Rituals of race: American public culture and the search for racial democracy. Virginia: University of Virginia Press. Sondhaus,L. (2011). World War One: The Global Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Read More