Neutrality In WW1
The First World War began in 1914, following a series of events starting with the assassinations in Sarajevo. In 1917 the war was in its fourth year with the troops from both sides locked in trench warfare, neither side capable of a decisive victory.
President Woodrow Wilson was very aware that the causes of war were rarely clear and that the modern European scenario was a complicated one. For this reason, he maintained America’s neutrality, as he did not believe that any of America’s interests should be threatened by a European war announcing on August 4th 1914, that America would be neutral in WW1. That neutrality was also extended to American bankers who could then lend money to both sides in the war.
However with the mounting probability …show more content…
A special mail and photograph service was also built up for the foreign Press. The British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, established the Department of Information to undertake the propaganda programme required. One section dealt with ‘white propaganda’ specifically designed to rally America to enter the war on humanitarian grounds, backed up in the media and another dealt with “black” propaganda designed to be used against their enemies.
The support of British propaganda was aided by the enthusiastic support of the American communication companies, and leading personnel running these companies who promoted the British cause. A widely circulated magazine “Life” supported Britain’s position about Belgium, the country being described as ‘a martyr to civilisation, sister to all who love liberty and law’. If British propaganda had to promote the campaign by itself it would not have had the same results if unassisted by the American elite who as mentioned elsewhere were strong Anglophiles.
Senator George W. Norris summed it up April 4th 1917.
“…a large number of the great newspapers and news agencies of the country have been controlled and enlisted in the greatest propaganda that the world has ever known to manufacture sentiment in favour of
President Woodrow Wilson was very aware that the causes of war were rarely clear and that the modern European scenario was a complicated one. For this reason, he maintained America’s neutrality, as he did not believe that any of America’s interests should be threatened by a European war announcing on August 4th 1914, that America would be neutral in WW1. That neutrality was also extended to American bankers who could then lend money to both sides in the war.
However with the mounting probability …show more content…
A special mail and photograph service was also built up for the foreign Press. The British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, established the Department of Information to undertake the propaganda programme required. One section dealt with ‘white propaganda’ specifically designed to rally America to enter the war on humanitarian grounds, backed up in the media and another dealt with “black” propaganda designed to be used against their enemies.
The support of British propaganda was aided by the enthusiastic support of the American communication companies, and leading personnel running these companies who promoted the British cause. A widely circulated magazine “Life” supported Britain’s position about Belgium, the country being described as ‘a martyr to civilisation, sister to all who love liberty and law’. If British propaganda had to promote the campaign by itself it would not have had the same results if unassisted by the American elite who as mentioned elsewhere were strong Anglophiles.
Senator George W. Norris summed it up April 4th 1917.
“…a large number of the great newspapers and news agencies of the country have been controlled and enlisted in the greatest propaganda that the world has ever known to manufacture sentiment in favour of