Fall 2018 Educator Guide - The Power of Propaganda
The Power of Propaganda
Posters and broadsides have been a tool for persuading individuals to support a variety of causes for centuries. The Standard Time Act was passed in 1918 and required the observation of Daylight Savings Time. The push for the passage of the act and public support for the practice originated with patriotic citizens who viewed it as a strategy to help win World War I. A Century of Saving Daylight provides a brief history of Daylight Savings Time in both New York and the United States. The article features posters supporting Daylight Savings Time held by the New York State Library.
Compelling Question: How did advocates for Daylight Savings Time try to persuade others to support their cause?
Setting the Stage
Show this video from pbslearningmedia.org and discuss the differences in daylight between summer and winter.
https://ny.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/buac18-35-sci-ess-daylightsunpath/daylight-hours-and-the-suns-apparent-path/
Link to Full Article: A Century of Saving Daylight
Document Analysis
Guided Reading Questions
1. Why did people support Daylight Savings Time (DST) in 1918?
2. What was the main argument made by Marcus M. Marks in support of DST?
3. Why did businesses support DST?
4. What role did posters play in the passage of the Standard Time Act of 1918?
5. How did supporters celebrate the passage of the law?
6. Why did farmers dislike DST?
7. What law made DST permanent?
