Question

Difficulty: EasyWorld War I: Mobilization and the Home Front

“It was a fight for the minds of men, for the 'conquest of their conviction' ... We did not call it propaganda, for that word, in German hands, had come to be associated with deceit and corruption. Our effort was a plain publicity proposition, a vast enterprise in salesmanship, the world's greatest adventure in advertising.”
— George Creel, Chairman of the Committee on Public Information, 1920

The activities described in the excerpt most directly reflected which of the following home front goals during World War I?

  1. Mobilizing public opinion and securing popular support for the war effortAnswer
  2. B
    Ending the Great Depression through government-sponsored employment programs
  3. C
    Promoting isolationist foreign policies to prevent future international conflicts
  4. D
    Regulating corporate monopolies to restore free market competition

Answer

Mobilizing public opinion and securing popular support for the war effort
The correct answer is correct because the Committee on Public Information (CPI), led by George Creel, was established during World War I to sway public opinion in favor of the US war effort and build domestic consensus through speeches, print media, and films.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the source and context of the excerpt.
The quote is by George Creel, the head of the Committee on Public Information (CPI), which was the federal agency responsible for propaganda and public relations during World War I.
Understanding who George Creel was and the role of the CPI helps anchor the excerpt in the correct historical context.
2
Analyze the main idea of the text.
The text discusses winning 'the minds of men' and engaging in a 'vast enterprise in salesmanship' to promote the war.
This shows that the primary goal was shaping public perception and ensuring domestic loyalty.
3
Select the option that matches this goal.
The option stating 'Mobilizing public opinion and securing popular support for the war effort' directly matches the goal of public relation campaigns and wartime propaganda.
Wartime mobilization required not just industrial and military prep, but also psychological preparation of the citizenry.

Key Concept

Wartime Mobilization of Public Opinion
Estimated Time:45s
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