Islamic forces, by the 11th century CE, occupied the Levant, birthplace of Christianity.
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Tag Archives: propaganda
The Civil War
The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a massive, devastating conflict which changed the nation forever.
By the end of the war, slavery in the United States would be destroyed and the power of the federal government over that of the states would be redefined. The Union (northern) states, with their economic, population, and manufacturing advantages triumphed over the Confederate (southern) states, despite the Confederacy having a distinct advantage in military leadership throughout much of the conflict.
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What About Juvenile Delinquency?
An increase in crime committed by teenagers during the late 1940s and into the 1950s spawned a number of educational resources aimed at young people (and their parents).
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Ideology and Propaganda: Make Mine Freedom
Throughout the Cold War, Harding College (now University) produced a number of films which promoted “American” values in the face of perceived pressure from “un-American” ideologies. This short animated film, “Make Mine Freedom” is an early example of these films. As you watch it, think about the goals the filmmakers had in creating this cartoon and who the cartoon’s audience might have been.
Source: The Prelinger Collection (direct link to video)
Questions to consider:
- The film makes reference to “isms”–given the year of production, to what “isms” might the filmmakers have been referring?
- What do the filmmakers promote as an alternative to ‘isms”?
- What are the specific dangers of these “isms”?
- What makes the American way better than the foreign “isms,” according to the filmmakers?
Justifying Japanese Relocation
During the Second World War, the Roosevelt administration issued executive orders to inter Japanese-Americans (many of them US citizens) in prison camps to lessen the perceived risk of Japanese sabotage. These two films are examples of the ways in which the US government attempted to justify these actions.