Recruitment and Motivation
Recruitment
On December 8th, 1941 the United States of America declared war on Imperial Japan in reaction to the attack on Pearl Harbor a day earlier. On December 11, 1941, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy offically joined Japan against the United States. The war was offical for the United States and subsequently needed a stronger military. Recruitment became a necessity.
To effectively recruit a number suitable for multiple enemies, the OWI attempted significant changes to preexisiting cultural ideals such as the role of women and minorities. The typical white women was deemed strong and intelligent but dedicated fully to her family and rearing. While minorities such as African Americans and Mexican Americans were discriminated, harassed, and given second-class citizenship.
An "American All" campaign developed by the OWI presented an image of American homogeneity and equality to encourage ALL individuals to voluenteer along with the existing draft. The infamous "I Want YOU for the U.S. Army" was directed toward all who were willing to fight, while posters such as "You Are Needed: Join the Army Nurse Corps" and "Become a Nurse Your Country Needs You" targeted women to particpate in the war through medical volunteer services.
By the end of 1942 the total number of US military personnel increased from the initial 1.8 million at the beginning of the war to 3.9 million.[1]
[1] “By The Numbers: The US Military”, The National WWII Museum, http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/ww2-by-the-numbers/us-military.html.
Motivation
Motivation was an important aspect for recruitment. The OWI not only need to dismantle preexisting biases but also to simply arouse the nation to fight the war: either at home through factory work or at the front-line itself.
To achieve such a broad goal, the OWI repetitiously promoted themes such as democracy, freedom, liberty, unity, and the evils of facism, in attempt to induce Americans to work hard abroad or at home. For example, Secretary of State Cordell Hull gave an address that epitomized the governments attempts to cajol the public:
"On our side, the side of the United Nations, it is, for each of us, a life-and-death struggle for preservation of our freedom, our homes, our very existence. We are united in our determination to destroy the world-wide forces of ruthless conquest and brutal enslavement. Their defeat will restore freedom or the opportunity for freedom alike to all countries and all peoples."[1]
Such remarks are paralleled with the two OWI posters on the bottom left, that feature quotes from President Franklin Roosevelt. It also matches other posters such as the Americans will always fight for liberty which features two sets of American infantry: one from the revolutionary era, while the second are of the Second World War, each are looking at one another under a dreary snowy atmosphere, prepared for any terrible situation yet able to defend their ideology. The poster indicates that our ancestors during the American Revolution prevailed and so will the Americans of the 1940s.
[1] Cordell Hull, “The War and Human Freedom,” (Washington DC: Office of War Information, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1942), University of Nebraska-Omaha Deposited Document.