WWI Poster Analysis

1. I would define propaganda as images or information used to influence people towards a certain view point.

2. The definition for propaganda according to dictionary.com is information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

4. In the first image, my eye is initially drawn to the bright red cross in the top left corner. The red cross seems to be symbolizing that is a god, since it is surrounded by light from behind the clouds. My eye is drawn to this because of its bright color, and because of the light shining behind it. Then my eye goes towards "the mother" wearing the red cross uniform, sitting with her hand reaching out and a child in her lap. This draws my attention second because of the sad looks on their faces and her bright colored uniform. They are also placed in front of what appears to be men riding horses.

5. I believe this the artist hoped that this image would encourage women or mothers to join the red cross and help the wounded men from war. I believe this was also to tell women that they can be more than just a stay at home mom.

6. This poster is targeted towards mothers because it says on the poster "Our Greatest Mother" and the lady is shown holding a child.

4. In the second image, my eye is drawn to the yellow door with the word "opportunity" written on it. I am drawn to this because of its bright red writing, but also because a woman nurse is holding it open. My eye is then drawn to the rolled up piece of paper in her hand. I assume this piece of paper is a degree from college because of in the distance behind her, there appear to be school buildings. I'm drawn to this because she appears proud and ready to work as she is coming through the door of opportunity.

5. I believe the artist hoped that women would be inspired to go to school and get a degree because then they will have unlimited opportunities of things to do. I believe, just like in the first image, that this is telling women that they can have a different job than just being a stay at home mother.

6. This poster is targeted for young women because it shows a woman just getting out of college ready to go to work.

4. In the third image, my eye is drawn to the woman messing with the radio with the headset on. I'm drawn to this because the image is focused in on her, and because she stands out from the group of men in the background.

5. I believe the artists intentions were to encourage women to go be a part of the war and that they too could help. Even though they could not fight, they could still help the men who were out fighting. I think this was intended to make them feel like they also had power like the men.

6. This image was also intended for young women who wanted to be a part of the war or wanted to strive for power. You can tell because it shows a woman on the radio with the soldiers walking behind her. She is contributing to the war along with the men.

7. I am not extremely comfortable with the government using tax dollars to try and convince me of something because I would rather come up with ideas on my own and not be told how, or what to do.
I do not want the government to have control over what I think or want to do.

8. I believe the government felt it was necessary to invest in propaganda during WWI because they needed people to volunteer and if they were unaware of the opportunity, or didn't have the little push of inspiration, then people may have never volunteered.

Multiple Choice Answer Key

1. b
2. d
3. a

Multiple Choice Questions Chapter 21

1. The Progressives believed all of the following except:
a) that growth and progress could not occur recklessly as it had in the late nineteenth century
b) that the "natural laws" of the marketplace and Social Darwinism were sufficient to create order, stability, and justice for society
c) the idea of progress
d) that continued growth and advancement were the nation's destiny
e) direct human intervention in social and economic issues was essential to having an improved society

2. Which of the following was the main argument for Women's Suffrage?
a) the idea of women being the head of the family instead of the males
b) to promote promiscuity, looseness, and neglect of children
c) a women's role was to be a mother, sister, daughter, or wife, not a large role in society
d) that women deserved the same rights as men - particularly the right to vote
e) to promote women to divorce their husbands and become independent

3. All of the following were reasons for temperance except:
a) alcohol was dangerous to peoples health
b) drunkenness caused violence and occasionally murder
c) working-class families small wages were wasted as the workers spent many hours in the saloons
d) employers saw alcohol as an impediment to industrial efficiency
e) it was a necessary step in restoring order to society

A Living Essay about Progressivism

For this assignment, I worked with Andrew and Victoria on connecting our topics of Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe, the voyage of the Titanic, and the building of the Brooklyn Bridge all to progressivism.

During the Progressive Era, the new ways in which it was possible for people to move from place to place demonstrates that this was a period of great innovation. Jewish Immigration from eastern Europe, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and the voyage of the Titanic all exemplify people being open to new ways of changing their lives.

With all of these innovations, there were great intentions and promise but each innovation brought its own risks.When stringing the cables for the Brooklyn Bridge, one of them snapped and resulted in several deaths but over all the bridge was a great addition to New York City. Even though the sinking of the Titanic was a terrible tragedy, the overall impact of the boat helped to better the innovations of ships. When the Jewish immigrants came to America, they were living in hard times, but as time went on and more immigrants made their way over, it was overall well worth the struggle in the end.

Titanic and the Progressive Era

The Titanic was made to be the best of its kind. During the Progressive Era, this ship was built with several extravagant emanates to draw the peoples attention. The news paper articles from this time tell about all of the new and never before seen features on the ship. I discovered that the knowledge of the luxuries and the size of this ship spread all across the United States. The news paper articles that I found came from North Dakota, Florida, Texas, South Dakota, and Kansas. In all of these articles, the authors are baffled by the rooms on the Titanic having private promenades. It was the first ship ever to have a private promenade. The ship had huge suites, several baths, sitting rooms, "hot rooms", gymnasiums, tanks (swimming pools), cooling rooms, turkish electric baths, and squash courts with squash coaches along board, to make the passengers feel more at home. In my opinion, I believe the builders were trying to make the Titanic into one of the first "cruise ships" as we know them today. I learned through these articles that the goal of the Titanic was to expand travel, make people feel at home while they were at sea, and make the biggest and fanciest ship ever.

This topic relates to Progressivism as a movement because one of the main goal of progressives was to reform things and make them better, and that is just what they did with the Titanic. The Titanic was said to be modeled after the Olympic. The builders made sure that everything in the Titanic was bigger and more advanced than the Olympic. According to the Kansas City Star, the restaurant was even better than the one on the Olympic. Just like the progressives, the builders of the Titanic wanted to take something like the Olympic, and make it even better for the people. The Titanic was more fit for extended living with its large size suites and numerous baths. The technology, luxurious emanates, and massive size symbolizes some of the progressives goals to reform and make things better than before.

Titanic Stairwell

Titanic Suite

Titanic Sitting Room

Sources
1. Comforts of Home While at Sea, May 15, 1911 - Aberdeen Daily News
2. Interior Views of Titanic, Showing Comforts Provided Passengers, April 17, 1912 - Daily Morning News - Dallas, Texas
3. A Palace on a Ship, March 24, 1912 - Kansas City Star
4. Two Titanic Suites will be 4,350 each, March 20, 1912 - Miami Herald
5. Titanic Maiden Trip, April 11, 1912 - Grand Forks Daily Herald - North Dakota

3rd Quarter Reflection

This quarter, I feel like I have really improved my reading and multiple choice skills. The reading questions have been a challenge for me, but I believe they will help me in the long run. I really enjoyed analyzing the political cartoons and being able to learn this new skill. We are currently learning about the Progressive Era which I find extremely interesting. This era is what made America how it is today. I also enjoyed watching the High Line documentary. It was interesting to see how these people turned something run-down and old into a modern park that improved the entire neighborhood in New York. The documentary helped me to understand what factors were necessary to create this park, and what factors were also necessary in the Progressive Era.

Thinking about Progress

1. I would define progress as improving from one point to another to reach a goal.

2. The 1890's to the 1920's is referred to as the Progressive Era because "it was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States".

3. Some of the achievements and issues that were associated with the Progressive Era was the passing of the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote to end women's suffrage, children's working hours were limited and their quality of education improved, they passed laws to protect the environment and address the problem of pollution, rise of crime during American urbanization, and alcohols effects on society and the call for prohibition.

4. All of these progressive reforms have in common the want for better living conditions for Americans.

5. Some of the four major goals of the progressives were protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, creating economic reform, and fostering efficiency. I have ranked them from 1 being essential goals that are worth striving for to 4 being a less important goal.
 1) Creating Economic Reform
 2) Protecting Social Welfare
 3) Promoting Moral Improvement
 4) Fostering Efficiency