Patriotism

Justification for US involvement in World War I was crucial to the war effort. Americans were called upon to make sacrifices in order to assist the Allies fighting against Axis powers. At the outbreak of war, many Americans felt that the nation should not become embroiled with the European conflict overseas. By 1917, America’s involvement in the war was assured and in order to rally the troops and the American people alike, publications were released which glorified the American fight for democracy abroad and demonized the German forces. This portion of the exhibit contains cartoons, letters, documents and postcards which demonstrate the nationalist pride of the Allied forces and depict the criticism and disdain for the enemy.

A collection of war cartoons by Will Dyson. These pages show the German emperor climbing atop a pile of skulls. Attached to this particular cartoon is a piece written by the Lord Bishop of Birmingham which decries glory achieved through slaughter.

This article describes the battle at Seicheprey and emphasizes the might of the American troops. A cartoon in the center of the page depicts US action slamming into words on pages.

The illustration on the cover of this magazine depicts the ideal of American patriotism during World War I. A character resembling Uncle Sam sits on horseback, sounding a trumpet before a crowd of citizens.

This publication appeals to Americans of German descent and calls upon their support and patriotism. The selected pages compare World War I to the American Revolution and imply that German Americans must fight for the freedom of America just as the colonists fought against the British.

This pamphlet is a report from the French Commission translated and published during the war which details the atrocities committed by German forces. The selected pages indicate that German soldiers are trained by their superiors to disregard human life and exercise brutality when dealing with civilians in conquered territories.