4.1 Impact of Government Controls - Propaganda and Government Power

What is Propaganda?

What was its purpose?

Was it effective?

Task 3 - Copy the following notes in bold:

During the time of the First World War, the Australian government's focus was on winning the war. In order to this, it had to ensure the Australian public was on side. As a result of the war taking longer than initially expected, as well as resulting in a huge number of casualties, the government lost some public support for the war. A key technique employed to turn this tide was the distribution of propaganda to the public through media channels such as newspapers and posters. The Australian Government pushed two major ideas to the public to ensure the were on side:

1. An anti-German narrative - designed to instil a sense of danger and anger at the German's, hoping to create a sentiment in the country that fuelled a desire to stand up to the bully that was Germany

2. A pro-enlistment narrative - designed to encourage (or shame) people to sign up to go and fight, hinting at ideas such as cowardice and national duty.

The Australian Government also began to strictly censor communications such as letters, telegrams, newspapers and magazines, in order to reduce the risk of military information reaching the enemy, and arguably to reduce the exposure of the public to the horrors of war, causing an anti-war sentiment. 

Task 5 - What else did the government do to contribute to the war effort? - Copy the below notes and write a paragraph answering the question below.

1. Collected income tax (this paid for army supplies, to fund the war)

2. Banned trade with enemy countries (in an effort to avoid contributing to their economy, fuelling the enemy war effort)

3. Controlled the movement of enemy aliens (German-Australians were controlled within Australia and could even be imprisoned)

Which government measure do you think would have most benefitted the war effort, and why?

Task 6 - Design your own piece of propaganda in the format of a poster which encourages Australians to join the Armed Forces during WW1. It should be persuasive and reminscent of the attitudes of the time. This should be done by hand.

Extension - Research German propganda from ww1 - are the messages similar?