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Propaganda And The Farm Security Administration

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Introduction
Propaganda is a powerful tool used by the media and governments to influence people's beliefs and actions. The Federal Security Agency (FSA) is no exception to this practice. As a government agency tasked with promoting public health, the FSA used propaganda during the Great Depression and World War II to support its programs and policies. From posters and radio broadcasts to speeches and films, the FSA used a variety of mediums to convey its messages. However, it is important to examine the ethical implications of using propaganda for public policy and to consider how it may have affected the public's perception of the FSA's programs. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Farm Security Administration (FSA) started to use …show more content…

The FSA used a variety of propaganda tools to advance their agenda, including photography, documentaries, and posters. One of the most potent propaganda tools used by the FSA was photography. FSA photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and Arthur Rothstein documented the plight of the poor farmers and sharecroppers, capturing the hardship and struggles they faced. These photographs were widely distributed and helped to generate public sympathy and support for the FSA's programs aimed at alleviating poverty in rural …show more content…

However, the impact of FSA propaganda on American society was not limited to just the Great Depression period, but also contributed to the shaping of American culture and social welfare policies that still exist to this day. The FSA propaganda influenced Americans to support Roosevelt’s policies aimed at reviving the economy and promoting better living standards, and this enabled America to recover from the Great Depression.
Furthermore, the FSA propaganda created a cultural shift in American society by promoting socially progressive ideas that challenged traditional notions of race, gender, and class. For example, the Migrant Mother photograph taken by Dorothea Lange became a symbol of the plight of poor farmers, and it sparked public outrage and raised awareness about the issue of poverty in America. Additionally, the FSA propaganda style, which included a focus on documentary-style photos and narrative storytelling, paved the way for modern photojournalism and documentary filmmaking that continues to influence contemporary culture. All in all, the FSA propaganda was not only instrumental in Roosevelt’s New Deal, but it also played a significant role in shaping American culture and

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An independent government agency known as The Committee on Public Information was formed as a way to influence the public’s opinion which they did by using propaganda. There are many different forms of propaganda and many of them were used in WWI which author Joseph Joe Kaminski further discusses in “World War I and Propaganda Poster Art: Comparing The United States and German Class”. The answer to getting the public’s attention was by using different tactics to intrigue citizens; “The use of propaganda art was essential in galvanizing opinions and reshaping ideas during WWI” (Kaminksi, 2).

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Propaganda posters during World War II were used to address issues to citizens. In the article “History as Historical Documents”, by Rodney F. Allen, it was stated a good poster is one that communicates a clear message and draws the attention of the viewer (1). These posters were able to influence a lot of citizens to make sacrifices and decisions to help the troops while addressing controversial topics. One of the well-known propaganda posters was “We Can Do It”, with Rosie the Riveter. Rosie the Riveter was a strong and competent factory worker in jeans and a bandanna and urged women to fill jobs that men had to leave for the war (Olsen).

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In times of need for countries citizens always stay loyal and feel more strongly toward their country than during peacetime. The use of national symbols such as Uncle Sam and new national icons such as Rosie the Riveter instilled a new sense of pride and loyalty to many in the nation. Propaganda was very effective from encouraging people to by war bonds, to encouraging people to join the military. Every piece of propaganda was used for the same common purpose, to help Americans help America to win the war.

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Franklin Roosevelt’s administration’s responses to the problem of the Great Depression were in the consideration of reform, relief, and recovery-the New Deal-which created programs that have lasted to modern times, increased government powers, and relief to many unemployed Americans, however, it’s clear that certain minorities, women and African Americans, were often excluded from these benefits. Throughout President Roosevelt's Presidency, many programs were created, some fell apart but many lasted, like the Social Security Board (SSB), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The Social Security

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Uncle Sam, who is known as a national personification of the United States, was the main aspect sparking interest in Americans. J. M. Flagg was able to accurately target his audience by choosing a patriotic figure and emphasizing the word “YOU” as Uncle Sam stared directly into the audience’s eyes while pointing at them. The characteristics of the propaganda were able to stimulate a feeling of pride. Since Uncle Sam was a famous figure that inspired people across America, he was used as the main source to convince millions to enlist in the army. Flagg’s poster immediately became the cover of multiple newspapers.

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Thompson wasn’t eager to have her family photographed and shown as specimens of poverty, but she knew there were many families just like hers that were starving. She had posed for the photo to symbolize the poor families in hopes of getting help. The photograph had helped Lange gather fame and it earned her a “Guggenheim fellowship and a permanent place in the canon of American photographers”, yet it did little to help Thompson herself who had posed for the photo (Phelan 2014). Lange had hoped that this picture would help educate the public about the plight of the hard working poor (Phelan 2014). Langes’ vision was to help the impoverished through photography, she knew if she could show the public the plight of the poor then something could be done to help them.

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With the help of propaganda posters, artists were able to motivate Americans, young and old, to contribute to the role of the United States in the war. Posters often contained children smiling and holding a war bond, with certain words like, “Buy a War Bond today”, or, “Support our troops by buying a War Bond”. However, they didn’t have to involve children. One famous example is “Uncle Sam”, used a propaganda poster to help persuade people to sign up for the draft, was originally published as the cover for the July 6, 1916, issue of Leslie's Weekly this portrait of "Uncle Sam" went on to become--according to its creator, James Montgomery Flagg--"the most famous poster in the world."

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