Norman Rockwell: Art as Propaganda
Making Connections
All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.Introduction
The "Four Freedoms" were a series of oil paintings created by American painter Norman Rockwell in 1943. Mr. Rockwell's inspiration for the paintings came from a speech made by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1941 in which he identified freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear as universal freedoms that need protection. Rockwell created these paintings in an effort to aid America during World War II.Name:
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Worksheet
Norman Rockwell: Art as Propaganda
Making Connections
Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Fill in any blanks in the sequence with your thoughts and write your conclusion response in the space provided.
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Conclusion
Norman Rockwell: Art as Propaganda
Making Connections
After examining each of Rockwell's "Four Freedoms", students will respond to three questions that will determine how these pieces of art were effective examples of wartime propaganda. 1. Who is the intended audience for the pieces of art? How do you know? 2. What values/symbols/messages does Rockwell depict/deliver through each of his paintings? How do you know? 3. In your opinion, what made each of Rockwell's "Four Freedoms" paintings such effective examples of wartime propaganda? Explain.Your Response
Document
Freedom of Speech
1941 - 1945
This World War II poster shows a painting by artist Norman Rockwell, illustrating "freedom of speech" – one of four freedoms outlined by President Franklin Roosevelt during his annual message to Congress (State of the Union speech) on January 6, 1941. The speech became known as FDR's "Four Freedoms Speech" due to a short closing portion in which he described his vision for extending American ideals throughout the world.
With World War II underway in Europe and the Pacific, FDR asked the American people to work hard to produce armaments for the democracies of Europe, to pay higher taxes, and to make other wartime sacrifices. Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people deserved.
Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people should have. His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These symbolized America's war aims and gave the American people a mantra to hold onto during the war.
Norman Rockwell created a series of paintings illustrating the four freedoms as international war goals that went beyond just defeating the Axis powers. In the series, he translated abstract concepts of freedom into four scenes of everyday American life. Although the federal government initially rejected Rockwell's offer to create paintings on the four freedoms theme, the images were publicly circulated when The Saturday Evening Post, one of the nation's most popular magazines, commissioned and reproduced the paintings. After winning public approval, the paintings served as the centerpiece of a massive U.S. war bond drive and went on a national tour to raise money for the war effort.
After the war, the four freedoms appeared again, embedded in the Charter of the United Nations.
With World War II underway in Europe and the Pacific, FDR asked the American people to work hard to produce armaments for the democracies of Europe, to pay higher taxes, and to make other wartime sacrifices. Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people deserved.
Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people should have. His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These symbolized America's war aims and gave the American people a mantra to hold onto during the war.
Norman Rockwell created a series of paintings illustrating the four freedoms as international war goals that went beyond just defeating the Axis powers. In the series, he translated abstract concepts of freedom into four scenes of everyday American life. Although the federal government initially rejected Rockwell's offer to create paintings on the four freedoms theme, the images were publicly circulated when The Saturday Evening Post, one of the nation's most popular magazines, commissioned and reproduced the paintings. After winning public approval, the paintings served as the centerpiece of a massive U.S. war bond drive and went on a national tour to raise money for the war effort.
After the war, the four freedoms appeared again, embedded in the Charter of the United Nations.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of Government Reports.
National Archives Identifier: 513536
Full Citation: Poster 44-PA-75; Freedom of Speech; 1941 - 1945; World War II Posters, 1942 - 1945; Records of the Office of Government Reports, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/freedom-of-speech, May 6, 2024]Freedom of Speech
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Document
Freedom from Fear
1941 - 1945
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of Government Reports.
National Archives Identifier: 513538
Full Citation: Photograph 44-PA-77; Freedom from Fear; 1941 - 1945; World War II Posters, 1942 - 1945; Records of the Office of Government Reports, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/freedom-from-fear, May 6, 2024]Freedom from Fear
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Document
Freedom From Want
1941-1945
This World War II poster includes a painting by artist Norman Rockwell, illustrating "freedom from want" – one of four freedoms outlined by President Franklin Roosevelt during his annual message to Congress (State of the Union speech) on January 6, 1941. The speech became known as FDR's "Four Freedoms Speech" due to a short closing portion in which he described his vision for extending American ideals throughout the world.
With World War II underway in Europe and the Pacific, FDR asked the American people to work hard to produce armaments for the democracies of Europe, to pay higher taxes, and to make other wartime sacrifices. Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people deserved.
Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people should have. His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These symbolized America's war aims and gave the American people a mantra to hold onto during the war.
Norman Rockwell created a series of paintings illustrating the four freedoms as international war goals that went beyond just defeating the Axis powers. In the series, he translated abstract concepts of freedom into four scenes of everyday American life. Although the federal government initially rejected Rockwell's offer to create paintings on the four freedoms theme, the images were publicly circulated when The Saturday Evening Post, one of the nation's most popular magazines, commissioned and reproduced the paintings. After winning public approval, the paintings served as the centerpiece of a massive U.S. war bond drive and went on a national tour to raise money for the war effort.
After the war, the four freedoms appeared again, embedded in the Charter of the United Nations.
With World War II underway in Europe and the Pacific, FDR asked the American people to work hard to produce armaments for the democracies of Europe, to pay higher taxes, and to make other wartime sacrifices. Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people deserved.
Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people should have. His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These symbolized America's war aims and gave the American people a mantra to hold onto during the war.
Norman Rockwell created a series of paintings illustrating the four freedoms as international war goals that went beyond just defeating the Axis powers. In the series, he translated abstract concepts of freedom into four scenes of everyday American life. Although the federal government initially rejected Rockwell's offer to create paintings on the four freedoms theme, the images were publicly circulated when The Saturday Evening Post, one of the nation's most popular magazines, commissioned and reproduced the paintings. After winning public approval, the paintings served as the centerpiece of a massive U.S. war bond drive and went on a national tour to raise money for the war effort.
After the war, the four freedoms appeared again, embedded in the Charter of the United Nations.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of Government Reports.
National Archives Identifier: 513710
Full Citation: Poster 44-PA-261; Freedom From Want; 1941-1945; World War II Posters, 1942 - 1945; Records of the Office of Government Reports, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/freedom-from-want, May 6, 2024]Freedom From Want
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Document
Save Freedom of Worship
1941 - 1945
This World War II poster includes a painting by artist Norman Rockwell, illustrating "freedom of worship" – one of four freedoms outlined by President Franklin Roosevelt during his annual message to Congress (State of the Union speech) on January 6, 1941. The speech became known as FDR's "Four Freedoms Speech" due to a short closing portion in which he described his vision for extending American ideals throughout the world.
With World War II underway in Europe and the Pacific, FDR asked the American people to work hard to produce armaments for the democracies of Europe, to pay higher taxes, and to make other wartime sacrifices. Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people deserved.
Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people should have. His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These symbolized America's war aims and gave the American people a mantra to hold onto during the war.
Norman Rockwell created a series of paintings illustrating the four freedoms as international war goals that went beyond just defeating the Axis powers. In the series, he translated abstract concepts of freedom into four scenes of everyday American life. Although the federal government initially rejected Rockwell's offer to create paintings on the four freedoms theme, the images were publicly circulated when The Saturday Evening Post, one of the nation's most popular magazines, commissioned and reproduced the paintings. After winning public approval, the paintings served as the centerpiece of a massive U.S. war bond drive and went on a national tour to raise money for the war effort.
After the war, the four freedoms appeared again, embedded in the Charter of the United Nations.
With World War II underway in Europe and the Pacific, FDR asked the American people to work hard to produce armaments for the democracies of Europe, to pay higher taxes, and to make other wartime sacrifices. Roosevelt presented his reasons for American involvement, making the case for continued aid to Great Britain and greater production of war industries at home. In helping Britain, President Roosevelt stated, the United States was fighting for the universal freedoms that all people deserved.
Roosevelt proposed four fundamental freedoms that all people should have. His "four essential human freedoms" included some phrases already familiar to Americans from the Bill of Rights, as well as some new phrases: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These symbolized America's war aims and gave the American people a mantra to hold onto during the war.
Norman Rockwell created a series of paintings illustrating the four freedoms as international war goals that went beyond just defeating the Axis powers. In the series, he translated abstract concepts of freedom into four scenes of everyday American life. Although the federal government initially rejected Rockwell's offer to create paintings on the four freedoms theme, the images were publicly circulated when The Saturday Evening Post, one of the nation's most popular magazines, commissioned and reproduced the paintings. After winning public approval, the paintings served as the centerpiece of a massive U.S. war bond drive and went on a national tour to raise money for the war effort.
After the war, the four freedoms appeared again, embedded in the Charter of the United Nations.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Office of Government Reports.
National Archives Identifier: 513712
Full Citation: Poster 44-PA-263; Save Freedom of Worship; 1941 - 1945; World War II Posters, 1942 - 1945; Records of the Office of Government Reports, ; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/save-freedom-of-worship, May 6, 2024]Save Freedom of Worship
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