Poster Assignment Worksheet : Should America Enter the Great War?
• What is your position on the United States entering the Great War(WWI)?
Highlight one:
a. Remain neutral and only provide humanitarian aid.
b. Join the Allies.
c. Join the Central Powers.
• Why are you advocating for this position?
• Describe how your poster illustrates your position.
• Provide references for any graphics, photos, images, or other materials you used for your poster.
Background
The year is 1916. The Great War (WWI) has been raging for over a year. The United States has remained neutral and stayed out of the conflict.
Opinion in the States is sharply divided as to what our role should be in this conflict. Should we stay out of it completely and only offer humanitarian aid to victims of the war?
Or should the US join the war? If the US joins the war, who should we support?
First watch this video that describes the state of the United States at the start of World War I. (9:26)
Next, watch this short clip on Woodrow Wilson and how he wanted to make the world safe for Democracy. (1:26)
· Woodrow Wilson makes the world safe for Democracy
Lastly, take a look at these three (3) online exhibits that show how poster art was used to sway opinions of the American people either for or against the war.
o New York's Library of WWI Propaganda
o Library of Congress Selling America on WWI Online Exhibit
o Echoes of the Great War - American Experiences of WWI (includes positions for and against the war)
Think about the different opinions about America's involvement in World War I, all the different people who have those options, and why. You will choose one position for or against joining the war and one perspective for this assignment.
Assignment
Your assignment is to create a "propaganda poster" either for or against the US entering WWI. Your poster must be a combination of graphics, photos, or other images that you find from your research and a short slogan or other motivational saying supporting your cause. You must provide a reference on the poster worksheet for each graphic, photo, or other image that you use in your poster unless you created it yourself. There is a list of resources to get your started at the end of this assignment that are also listed in the course shell.
Your "poster" can be on a PowerPoint slide, a Google slide, Google Drawing, a Word doc, a pdf, or other presentation format. Once you have created your poster, it is best to save it to a pdf format. You will also fill out the poster worksheet to explain your poster and list the sources you used in making your poster.