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Propaganda Facts & Worksheets

Propaganda is a type of communication used to persuade or influence an audience to further an agenda.

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Propaganda is a type of communication used to persuade or influence an audience to further an agenda. It may not be objective and may present selective facts to encourage a particular perception, or it may use influential language to elicit an emotional response to the information presented.

See the fact file below for more information on Propaganda or you can download our 29-page Propaganda worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF PROPAGANDA

  • Prior to the rise of Athens as a center of human culture, the majority of the people in the ancient Asiatic civilization lived under despotism and had no means of expressing their collective feelings or wishes. 
  • However, the Greeks who made up the citizen class in Athens were well-informed about the issues and happenings in the city-state to which they belonged and were aware of their collective interests. 
  • Propaganda and counter-propaganda emerged as a result of religious and political disagreements. Even though they did not have access to media, the Athenians were able to influence people’s perceptions through other potent means of propaganda.
  • Propaganda in religion included the Ten Commandments of Judaism and Christianity, the Hindu Manu-smriti (Laws of Manu) and highly selective chronicles of rulers’ accomplishments have all been used to enlist mass support for particular social and religious systems. 
  • Similar schools of thought have existed in other significant civilizations. Both Buddha in ancient India and Confucius in ancient China advocated the use of truthfulness, “good” rhetoric, and “proper” forms of speech and writing to inspire people to live a good life through example and precept.

MODERN-DAY PROPAGANDA – PRINT

  • In recent centuries, the term “propaganda” became a modern phenomenon that developed as a result of governments increasingly recognizing the necessity of persuading public opinion in favor of their policies to create literate and politically active societies informed by mass media.
  • Influencing the public was made through colorful and eye-catching propaganda posters.
  • Soon, propaganda became instrumental during war efforts and the political ends of many countries. 
  • For example, the use of books, magazines, and newspapers is the most common method of communist propaganda. These are used to spread news and information about the country’s state as well as political ideologies and messages to the public. 
  • Additionally, communist leaders frequently employ public speaking as a means of conveying their message to the masses.
  • During the World Wars, propaganda posters were also circulated to enlist men and women either in combat or in other ways to support the war efforts.
  • The United States Woodrow Wilson administration established a propaganda department during WW1. Experts in propaganda Walter Lippmann and Edward Bernays of the Committee on Public Information (CPI) were tasked with persuading people to enlist in the military and sell war bonds.
  • In Nazi Germany, the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda produced the majority of propaganda. This ministry was given to Joseph Goebbels shortly after Hitler took power in 1933. The Ministry’s subordinate chambers for the press, fine arts, music, theatre, film, literature, and radio required all journalists, writers, and artists to register.
  • The government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia used propaganda as a military strategy during the Yugoslav Wars.
  • The Serb population was motivated to oppose the other ethnic groups through propaganda. The Serb media made a great deal of effort to justify, revise, or deny the mass war crimes that Serb forces committed during these wars.

MODERN PROPAGANDA – FILMS

  • The film became the new cultural agent around the turn of the 20th century, showing events and foreign images to large audiences in European and American cities.
  • It also began during the first world war as secondary means to influence the minds of the public. 
  • One of the best examples of the propaganda film genre is “Why We Fight,” a seven-part series funded by the United States government to support the war effort. Other propaganda films like “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” (1944) and “Casablanca” (1942) can stand on their own as dramatic films due to their widespread popularity.
  • During the Cold War, film propaganda was utilized in movies such as “Communist Blueprint for Conquest” (1956), “Communism” (1950), “Red Nightmare” (1957), “Communist Weapon of Allure” (1950), “Red Dawn” (1984), and many more.
  • Through animation, Walt Disney and Looney Tunes offered viewers instruction, training, and political commentary and actively contributed to the war effort of the United States.

21st-CENTURY PROPAGANDA

  • With the advent of modern technology, propaganda became more widespread. Because of this, the dissemination of information was accelerated, and the inventiveness of the propaganda increased its appeal even to younger audiences.
  • Regardless of the era, however, the most dominant purpose of propaganda is political. Secondary can be economic and personal influences.
  • In an international setting, the purpose of propaganda is to change people’s attitudes and opinions, alter their relationship with their governments, or convey a different perspective on their own situation and that of the world at large.
  • Researchers in communications have discovered a few minor communications impacts in low-involvement decisions, such as which brand of laundry soap to purchase. 
  • But, they haven’t discovered significant effects from informative or persuasive campaigns addressing contentious themes like family or cultural values, nationalism, ideology, or straightforward interpretations of important problems or occurrences.

COMMON KINDS OF ADVERTISING PROPAGANDA

  • Testimonial Propaganda – Uses a well-known figure or animated character to promote a product or brand.
  • Stereotyping Propaganda – This propaganda technique reveals prejudices before using the message of the advertising to either confirm or refute them.
  • Fear appeal Propaganda – This makes individuals believe that by buying or not buying a particular product, they are taking a risk. The concept gives customers the impression that something bad might happen if they don’t use the product.
  • Bandwagon Propaganda – A technique used in advertising to attract customers and influence their perceptions of competing goods. To deflect the attention of their customers, advertisers misrepresent and even commit outright fraud. The interests of their client are less important to them.
  • The Plain Folks Propaganda uses ordinary people to promote the product. The goal is to show all customers how valuable the product is.
  • Transfer propaganda technique – Advertisers use symbols or things about which we have strong beliefs, such as the national flag, religious beliefs, and influential personalities, in this propaganda technique to get people to relate to their idea and accept it. 
  • Card Stacking Propaganda – It employs a deceptive strategy in which the benefits of its product are  emphasized while omitting any potential drawbacks by focusing on the product’s best features and selling points.
  • Name-Calling Propaganda – To promote the product, which faces fierce competition from other products, the advertisers employ name-calling propaganda to draw customers from the opposite side.

Propaganda Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Propaganda across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Propaganda. Propaganda is a type of communication used to persuade or influence an audience to further an agenda

Propaganda Worksheets
Propaganda Worksheets
Propaganda Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Propaganda Facts
  2. Understanding Propaganda
  3. Propaganda Pioneer
  4. Targeted Audience
  5. The Power of Propaganda
  6. Benefits of Propaganda
  7. Hinting at Danger
  8. Ad Propaganda
  9. Power of Influencers
  10. Unforgettable Taglines
  11. My Propaganda
  12. Thoughts on Propaganda

Frequently Asked Questions

What is propaganda?

Propaganda is a form of communication that seeks to influence the opinions, attitudes, and behaviors of a targeted audience in order to promote a particular idea, cause, or agenda. It often relies on emotional appeals and is often used in political or ideological contexts.

What are some common techniques used in propaganda?

There are many different techniques used in propaganda, including emotional appeals, loaded language, oversimplification, demonization of opponents, and the use of symbols and slogans. Propagandists often use these techniques to manipulate the audience’s emotions and create a sense of urgency or importance around the message they are promoting.

What are some historical examples of propaganda?

There have been many examples of propaganda throughout history, including Nazi propaganda during World War II, Soviet propaganda during the Cold War, and American propaganda during the Vietnam War. More recent examples include political propaganda used in elections and social media propaganda used to influence public opinion on various issues.

How can people recognize and resist propaganda?

People can recognize propaganda by being aware of the techniques used and questioning the source and motivation behind the message. To resist propaganda, it’s important to seek out multiple sources of information, fact-check claims, and critically evaluate the evidence presented. Developing media literacy skills can also help individuals become more resistant to propaganda.

Is propaganda always bad?

Propaganda itself is not inherently good or bad, as it is simply a means of communication. However, the content of propaganda can be morally questionable if it promotes false information, encourages harmful behaviors, or manipulates people for the benefit of a particular group or individual. As such, it’s important to critically evaluate the content of propaganda and consider its potential impact on individuals and society as a whole.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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