Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty

Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty
See adjacent text.
Artist Bernard Perlin
Year 1943

Americans will always fight for liberty is the title of a poster frequently displayed throughout the United States during World War II. The poster depicts three American soldiers from 1943 marching in front of members of the Continental Army from 1778.

History

The poster was created in 1943, near the height of the advance of the Axis Powers into Europe, Asia and Africa. The poster was produced by the United States office of War Information to foster patriotism and support for the war effort by depicting American soldiers as freedom fighters. The poster compared members of the military to Continental soldiers stationed at Valley Forge to demonstrate the United States willingness to continue combating the Axis Powers as well as to create a connection between the soldiers from the Revolutionary War and the soldiers engaged in combat in the then ongoing Second World War.[1][2]

Impact

The poster was displayed throughout the United States in public areas such as schools, libraries, post offices and factories. It helped to instill patriotism during the Second World War and has been called one of the most recognized and enduring posters produced during the World War II era.[3][4] The poster also demonstrated the United States commitment to continue fighting against the Axis Powers.[5]

Legacy

A 2014 article in the Canada Free Press questioned whether modern Americans would be willing to fight for liberty in the spirit of the poster and to attack the United States government for apparent violations of the United States Constitution.[6] The poster was also analyzed by members of the National World War II Museum. They argued that the poster demonstrated transfer propaganda, or an attempt to transfer the belief that Americans fought for liberty during the Revolutionary War to the then-ongoing Second World War.[7]

References

  1. ↑ ""1778 - 1943 Americans Will Always Fight For Liberty" Poster". Smithsonian. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ Brewer, Susan (2009). Why America Fights: Patriotism and War Propaganda from the Philippines to Iraq. Oxford University Press. p. 284.
  3. ↑ "Americans will always fight for liberty". Museum of the American Revolution. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ Grant, Susan-Mary (2012). A Concise History of the United States of America. Cambridge University Press. pp. 314–315. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Schwartz, Barry. "Presidents' Day: The Commemoration of What?". Institutions of Public Memory: 82–97.
  6. ↑ Judi McLeod. "Fight for Liberty?". Canada Free Press. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Winning Over Hearts and Minds: Analyzing WWII Propaganda Posters". National World War II Museum. Retrieved May 10, 2014.

Further reading

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