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U.S. History WWI Opinion Project: Specific Publications

The Atlantic Monthly

The Atlantic Monthly archive goes back to 1857 -- so it has chronicled much of American history. Enter a search ("european war" or armistice for example) and then find articles by date. A few examples are provided below. 

The Crisis

The Crisis is the magazine of the NAACP. Its first editor, W.E.B. Du Bois, wrote several editorials about the war. You can browse The Crisis archives, but a few of the most notable of Du Bois's editorials about the war are provided below. 

Front Cover

November 1914
The World War: The Color Line

Front Cover

June 1917
Editorial 

Front Cover

July 1918
"Close Ranks" Editorial by W.E.B. Du Bois

Primary Sources

The Library of Congress shares an outstanding assortment of primary source materials that provide insight into the lives and attitudes of individuals impacted by WWI during the early 20th century. Relevant resources include the following exhibits and digital research guides:

  • Arguing Over the War: The documents included in the "For or Against the War" exhibit are of special interest including the use of posters as a form of propaganda to encourage individuals to enlist in the military, political cartoons outlining the pros and cons of the US entering the war, as well as, photographs and news coverage of the sinking of the Lusitania, and documents published by the Women's Peace Party and the Anti-War League of the District of Columbia. 
  • Digital Collections: The Library of Congress created a research guide that provides access to hundreds of digital newspaper clippings from both American and international newspapers, in addition to a wide variety of posters, books, videos, audio recordings, maps, and manuscripts.
  • Over Here: The "Surveillance and Censorship" exhibit includes access to primary source materials such as the Committee on Public Information's (CPI) Four Minute Men program, political cartoons published in the New York Herald following the passing of the Sedition Act, along with Max Eastman, the editor of the socialist journal, The Masses, article, which opposes US entrance into World War I.