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Propaganda and Censorship


In time of war and violence, where more likely then not, a government will loose control of their citizens. It has happened to the poorest of countries and the wealthiest. To the “smallest” of wars to the largest of wars. How does a government control the restlessness, doubt, and fear of citizens who live in such an uneasy time? Through media, media control, installing fear, encouraging action, and promoting cause. A very popular and simple concept known as propaganda. This essay will explore the effects of propaganda and censorship on the citizens who lived through one of the most controversial wars of their time. A war that had more deaths then any other war to date.
And another war that is equally as controversial and has climbing death rates as months go by. A war that lacks reason or need.
World War II is said to be one of The United States’ darkest hours. With citizens who are becoming increasingly lackluster. The leadership kept approval ratings high and riots to a minimum. Posters on street corners, store fronts, and even on school grounds showed the enemy as scum of the earth, and satanic. These posters consequently mobilized the country. As America’s minds were being filled with the image of demons and rodents invading their homes and killing their families, the ideology became war or death. These racially charged posters based on the enemy needed to be balanced with equally influential patriotic posters to motivate support.
These constant reminders weren’t enough to keep citizens under the governments belt. Government agencies were soon created to began to censor negative media and organizations. President Roosevelt created the Office of Government Reports. This office was said to circulate neutral and accurate news and kept false reports out of our communities. In time, with the right information being fed to the people, confidence in our growing military strength was...