Final answer:
The U.S. government used large-scale propaganda efforts to persuade citizens to serve on the front lines and support the war effort. This was achieved by depicting patriotism and duty through various forms of media and framing the war as a moral imperative. The Committee on Public Information played a crucial role in selling the war, and a significant number of Americans, including women, were mobilized as "citizen soldiers".
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States government has historically used various tactics to persuade people to serve on the front lines during wars. One of the key methods was through the creation of large-scale propaganda campaigns. These campaigns utilized media outlets such as newsreels, radio broadcasts, and posters to generate a sense of duty and patriotism among citizens. Individuals were encouraged to become "citizen soldiers", contributing to the war effort not just by enlisting in the military but also by supporting in other capacities - working in factories, rationing food, and adjusting their everyday lives to prioritize resources for the war. The Committee on Public Information (CPI), established during World War I, played a pivotal role in selling the war to the American public. Under the leadership of George Creel, it adopted advanced advertising strategies to evoke emotions and validate the sacrifices asked of the public. Propaganda posters would often dramatize the perceived evilness of the enemy and link rationing and frugality to patriotism, framing support for the war as a moral imperative. Such efforts helped ensure that extreme measures like conscription, rationing, and economy control - including price setting and standardized production - garnered public support. During World War II, 16 million Americans served in the armed forces, influenced by propaganda that portrayed military service as a means to honor fallen family members and defend the nation. Women were also encouraged to serve, and those opposing female military service were positioned as anti-patriotic. This demonstrates how propaganda appealed to a broad spectrum of the population, highlighting the significant role women played and the wide-ranging impact the war had on American government, economics, and society.