Rosie and Uncle Sam: Explain how the office of War Information contributed to positive public relations for WWII.

The War Information influenced the American public's opinion in order to create positive public relations for World War II. In fact, the Government understood the importance of persuading the American people that they hired public relation professionals to create campaigns using all forms of mass communication that was available at the time. 

Such mediums as posters, newsreels, and photographs helped contribute to the image that the American government wanted to instill in the public to help win the war. Some of the more famous campaigns created the iconic images of Rosie the Riveter and Uncle Sam Wants You. 

According to the National World War II museum's website, the purpose of these campaigns included, “recruitment, financing the war effort, unifying the public behind the war effort and eliminating dissent of all kinds, resource conservation, and factory production of war materials. The most common themes found in the posters were the consequences of careless talk, conservation, civil defense, war bonds, victory gardens,“women power”, and anti-German and Japanese scenarios” (http://www.nationalww2museum.org/). These images played on sympathy, fear, and patriotism to influence the public.

Works Cited

"The Propaganda Posters of WWII." The National World War II Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2012. <http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/at-a-glance/propaganda-posters-of-ww2.pdf>.