This French colour lithographic poster promotes a war loan issued by the French government. War loan posters were the largest category of posters issued between 1914 and 1918 as the French government appealed to the civilian population to help finance the war. The poster is undated, but must have been issued after the United States entered the war on the side of the Allies in April 1917.
The image shows the French general, the Marquis de Lafayette, who fought for the Americans in their War of Independence from the British in 1776, on horseback, leaning down to shake hands with Uncle Sam, the symbol of the United States. The image symbolises how the United States in its turn is coming to the aid of its old ally by sending fresh troops to help the war-weary French army.
- Article by:
- Ian Cooke
From the beginning of World War One, both sides of the conflict used propaganda to shape international opinion. Curator Ian Cooke considers the newspapers, books and cartoons produced in an attempt to influence both neutral and enemy countries.
- Article by:
- Jennifer D Keene
- Race, empire and colonial troops, Life as a soldier, Civilians
Jennifer Keene explores the events that led up to the United States of America joining the First World War and describes the effect that participation in the war had on American social and political life.