A World Safe for Democracy
“The world must be made safe for democracy.”
Is that the latest presidential campaign slogan from Barack Obama or John McCain? Actually no. Although it could be. It’s actually a statement made in 1917 by President Woodrow Wilson.
After attempting to keep the U.S. out of the First World War for three years, he felt that the U.S. had to enter the war to help make the world safer. His attempts to keep the U.S. out of the war failed after Germany’s refusal to honor America’s neutrality. Incidents that fueled America’s willingness to enter the war included the U-boat sinking of the British liner Lusitania, killing 128 
Americans, as well as the suspected German sabotage against two American arms stockpiles in new Jersey. After Germany repeatedly violated the Sussex Pledge, pledging not to attack unarmed passenger ships, the U.S. got even closer.
The final blow came with the British interception of the Zimmerman Telegram, a coded telegram, from Germany to their ambassador in Mexico. The message laid out a plan for Mexico to attack the U.S., if hostilities broke out between the Germany and the U.S. Germany pledged its support to any subsequent attempt by Mexico to regain territory lost during the Mexican-American war (1846-48), including much of Texas, California Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.
This enraged Americans and war against Germany was declared. But in order to fund the war, the Liberty Bond drive was established, urging citizens to help the government’s need to fund the war by investing in Liberty bonds.
Approximately $30 billion was needed to fund the two years the country was at war. Prior to the war, the annual Federal budget was under $1 billion annually. So both Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps, were sold to the American public. Bonds paid 3½% to 4½% interest annually. War Savings Stamps also earned interest and could be earn interest or be redeemed for bonds. Stamps were targeted at children and were available for just 25¢ per stamp. Funds from War Stamps were specifically designated to pay for the production of ammunition for soldiers.
In order to promote the bonds, a series of posters in various sizes were created by the Treasury Department, a different set for each 
campaign and were distributed nationally. The posters used powerful messages, stressing American values and emotional icons. Themes of motherhood, the Boy Scouts, the Statute of Liberty, and Uncle Sam were common. Some showed the brave American soldier or depicted German battlefield atrocities, but only a few showed an American with a dead German. Some posters were also translated into other languages, to target recent immigrants.
Over the Top – American Posters from World War I
National American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery
Eighth and F Streets, NW,
Washington, DC 20001 (map it)
Hours – Daily 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., through Feb. 3, 2008
Admission – Free
Nearest Metro subway station
Parking – Metered street and paid garage parking is available in the area.
Images – personal collection
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