BACKGROUND

After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, America officially entered the Second World War. World War II ended 1945, with an estimated death count of about 50 to 85 million people. Involving over 30 different countries, the war was fought by two different teams—the Axis vs. the Allies. The Axis included Germany, Japan, and Italy, while the Allies included USA, Britain, Russia, and China. The war ended with the combination of an invasion in Germany, capturing Berlin, and the atomic destruction in Japan.

Prior to the Pearl Harbor bombing, America and Japan had a strained relationship. America refused to send any more raw materials, forcing Japan to physically attack and cripple the American navy and ultimately, destroying what is left of the relation between the two countries. This propelled America into the use of stereotypical propaganda in order to rally the citizens to avenge the loss at Pearl Harbor.

Throughout this war, the use of war propaganda flooded the millions of civilians involved. America utilized extremely racist stereotypes of Japanese and Germans, depicting them as inhumane monsters bent on tearing down democracy and equality. Adolf Hitler mass produced advertisements antagonizing Jews as the main enemy of the state and the reason of their beloved country’s downfall. The massive use of war propaganda encouraged and rallied citizens to support their national leader, despite their actual intent.

By examining primary sources, America's perspective on the Axis powers can be seen, revealing extreme paranoia and racism, but determination to defeat the rise of fascism on the home front and broad.