Analysing Sources – Propaganda Why is this called a propaganda poster?
This is an American propaganda poster for recruiting soldiers during the First World War.
America is represented by a person, ‘Uncle Sam’.
This is a commanding Uncle Sam pointing at the viewers, looking straight at them and telling them ‘I WANT YOU FOR U.S. ARMY’.
The slogan on the poster is in big print and ‘YOU’ is in red to highlight it.
There is a pale background so that Uncle Sam stands out clearly. The use of the red and blue colours is in line with the colours of the US flag. They are also bright and attractive colours.
All these features are used to persuade young men that they should join the US Army. That is why it is called a propaganda poster.
1. What have you learned about propaganda from studying and reading about this poster?
Sources can also have a problem with the accuracy of the information in them. ● Eyewitnesses or participants can exaggerate or mistakenly report what happened.
Historians need to cross-check between different sources to ensure their facts are accurate. Historians can also change (or revise) their stories (interpretations) when new sources become available.
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Different interpretations on the winning of the 2020 USA Presidential election
US ELECTION 2020 1 DEMOCRAT 306 BIDEN 270 to win
VICTORY FOR BIDEN After 50 of 50 states
TRUMP REPUBLICAN 232 (Twitter)
1. What does Source 1 say was the result of the 2020 USA Presidential election? 2. What does Source 2 say was the result of the 2020 USA Presidential election? 3. How do these interpretations on the result of the 2020 USA Presidential election differ?
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See Chapter 1 in the Skills Book for further questions.
What is an interpretation?
A historian’s description and analysis of the past is called an interpretation.