Comparing and Contrasting Government PSAs

Focusing on Details: Compare and Contrast

All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.

Introduction

Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires an enumeration (or count) be taken every 10 years of all people living in the United States. The federal Census was first taken in 1790 and has been taken every 10 years since, most recently in 2020. While constitutionally necessary to ensure that the House of Representatives correctly distributes members among the states based on population, over the years the Census has also been used to gain a better understanding of our changing nation and its people.

Explore the following advertisements created to build public support for the 1950 Census. For each advertisement, answer the document analysis questions below. As you analyze, focus particular attention on the arguments made in favor of participating with the Census and note the major similarities and differences between these advertisements.

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Worksheet

Comparing and Contrasting Government PSAs

Focusing on Details: Compare and Contrast

Examine the documents included in this activity and write your response in the space provided.

Quickly scan the advertisement. What do you notice first?
List the people, objects, places, and activities in the poster.
Are there any symbols in the advertisement? What do they represent?
Does it have a message printed on it? Are there questions or instructions?
Does the advertisement try to persuade mainly through words, visuals, or both equally?
Write one sentence summarizing this advertisement.
Who do you think is the intended audience?
Why was it created? List evidence from the poster that tells you this.
What arguments does the advertisement make?
How does it try to persuade people to participate in the Census?

Your Response

Activity Element

Advertising Campaign for the 1950 United States Census

Activity Element

Advertising Campaign for the 1950 United States Census

Activity Element

Advertising Campaign for the 1950 United States Census

Activity Element

Advertising Campaign for the 1950 United States Census

Conclusion

Comparing and Contrasting Government PSAs

Focusing on Details: Compare and Contrast

Answer the following questions in preparation for a class discussion:

What arguments do these advertisement make?
How do they try to persuade people to participate in the Census?
What are some of the major similarities and differences between these advertisements?

How do you think modern ads to build support for participating in the Census today would differ from these historical ads? What arguments would be made? What audiences would they focus on?

Your Response

Document

Advertising Campaign for the 1950 United States Census

ca. 1950

To help explain to the public why the 1950 Census was imoprtant, an entire “public service announcement” (PSA) packet was crafted by the Advertising Council. Often called the Ad Council, this nonprofit organization that produces, distributes, and promotes PSAs on behalf of nonprofit, nongovernment, and U.S. governmental organizations.

This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.

National Archives Identifier: 195980247

Full Citation: Advertising Campaign for the 1950 United States Census; ca. 1950; Narrative Histories, Committee Minutes, and Procedural Manuals Primarily Relating to the 17th Decennial Census, ca. 1975 - ca. 1978; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/advertising-campaign-1950-united-states-census, April 20, 2024]