“Revolutionary” World War II Savings Stamp Poster

A 1942 poster created by the U.S. government with American Revolution-themed imagery encouraging Americans to support the war effort

Historical Period

America and a World at War

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10 Analysis questions 5 Vocabulary Words

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About

This poster, created in 1942 by the U.S. government, encouraged Americans to buy war savings stamps, a type of loan made by citizens to the government with the promise of repayment with interest. The U.S. government used war savings bonds and war savings stamps to help finance World War II. Savings bonds were typically purchased in larger dollar amounts, anywhere from $25 to $1,000. To appeal to children and lower-income Americans, the government also sold savings stamps. Savings stamps cost less than the bonds, anywhere from 10 cents to $5. If a collector of savings stamps purchased enough stamps, they could trade them in for a savings bond. The poster—one of a collection of four featuring American Revolution-era imagery and themes—includes an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence and an illustration of several founders to appeal to patriotic feelings.

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“Revolutionary” World War II Savings Stamp Poster

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Analysis Questions

Foster inquiry and understanding with these source-specific questions, designed to be accessible even for those with limited background knowledge.

say hello to the source

1

Look over the document, without reading it closely. What do you notice?
2

What types of documents have you seen that resemble this source?

make observations

3

This source references the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. What details in the source support this claim?
4

This poster was created by the U.S. government during World War II. A war savings stamp is a type of small loan made by citizens to the government with the promise of repayment with interest. Based on this information, what is the goal of the source?

interpret what you see

5

Why might the source’s creator have selected this quote from the Declaration of Independence? What does it suggest about their views on U.S. involvement in World War II?
6

What does the phrase “They kept the faith and so do you” mean? Why do you think the source’s creator makes this comparison?
7

What connections does the poster make between the American Revolutionary War and World War II?
8

During this time period, Black Americans were subjected to widespread bigotry. Jim Crow laws in the South mandated segregation, and discrimination in wartime industries limited job opportunities. Meanwhile, people of Japanese descent were forced into internment camps and were denied their civil rights during World War II. Given this information, why might this poster be considered hypocritical or in conflict with the reality of many Americans during this period?

use it as evidence

9

Why might sources such as this poster help historians understand what was meaningful to the government and Americans at the time?
10

Who might this poster have appealed to? What makes you say that?

Vocabulary

Use these related vocabulary terms to build students’ understanding and support more meaningful discussions and learning outcomes in your classroom.

Definition

lack of tolerance toward a group of people or a culture other than one’s own

Example

The slanted opinion piece on the news site showed evidence of extreme bigotry.

Definition

the act of treating a person or a group of people differently in an unfair way based on characteristics such as race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation

Example

Many people work hard to end discrimination so that everyone is treated fairly, no matter their race, gender, or background.

Definition

the set of laws and practices in the Southern United States that enforced segregation and discrimination against African Americans from the late 1870s to the 1960s

Example

The state passed a series of Jim Crow laws that made it difficult for African Americans to vote in elections.

Definition

care, direction, or guidance from a spiritual or godlike power

Example

The sailors believed that divine providence had guided their ship through the storm and delivered it safely to shore.

Definition

the practice or policy of separating people, often based on race

Example

Members of the boycott protested the city’s segregation policy that required Black passengers to sit at the back of public transportation.

Citation & Details

Citations

Creator: Daugherty, James Henry, 1889-1974
Date Created: ca. 1940
Materials and Measurements: 1 colored poster 45 x 31 cm.
Point of Origin: Washington, DC, U. S. Govt. print. off.
Object Identifier #: P&E L2010F70
Citation Label: The Society of the Cincinnati, The Robert Charles Lawrence Fergusson Collection.

Sources used to create the comprehension questions include:

National Museum of the United States Air Force. (n.d.). Liberty Bond and War Saving Stamps Leaflets. https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/579630/liberty-bond-and-war-saving-stamps-leaflets/

National WWII Museum. (n.d.). Stamping Out the Enemy: U.S. Postal War Savings Stamps. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/Elementary%20-%20Stamping%20Out%20the%20Enemy-War%20Savings%20Stamp%20Math_0.pdf

UNT Digital Library. (n.d.). Lexington, 1775, they fought for freedom, we fight to keep it; Independence, July 4, 1776, they kept the faith and so do you every time you lend a dime for war savings stamps; John Paul Jones said, "I have not yet begun to fight", fight with war stamps & bonds; Washington crossed the Delaware to win our freedom, we cross oceans to keep it. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc338/

Virginia Museum of History & Culture. (n.d.). World War II Stamp Corsage (c. 1942). https://virginiahistory.org/learn/world-war-ii-stamp-corsage-c-1942