---
title: America can't hitch-hike to victory! 20,000,000 cars are essential
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-cant-hitch-hike-to-victory-1942/
description: 'Car-conservation poster: a worker in cap, jacket and gloves with a lunch pail thumbs a ride beneath the headline ''America can''t hitch-hike to victory!''.'
section: Collection
---

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3. America can't hitch-hike to victory! 20,000,000 cars are essential

[![America can't hitch-hike to victory! 20,000,000 cars are essential, 1942 US poster: Car-conservation poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/america-cant-hitch-hike-to-victory-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/america-cant-hitch-hike-to-victory-1942.jpg)

# America can't hitch-hike to victory! 20,000,000 cars are essential

Car-conservation poster: a worker in cap, jacket and gloves with a lunch pail thumbs a ride beneath the headline 'America can't hitch-hike to victory!'. A banner reads '20,000,000 cars are essential!' and an Office of Defense Transportation badge reads 'Keep 'em rolling'. An ordinary worker stands for the message (plain folks); the figure stresses cars' essential role and not the case for other travel.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
AMERICA CAN'T
HITCH-HIKE
TO VICTORY!
20,000,000 CARS
ARE ESSENTIAL!
ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION WORKER
OFFICIALLY APPROVED
ODT
OFFICE OF DEFENSE TRANSPORTATION
KEEP 'EM ROLLING
-AND IT'S OUR JOB TO
KEEP 'EM ROLLING
[imprint:] OLDSMOBILE DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS
```

[← America at War (A present for the Jap; Army transport; Aboard the famous Joseph Conrad)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-at-war-woolworth-kiska-1942/) [America needs ships to carry the war to the enemy. Let's go! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-needs-ships-bethlehem-steel-1942/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)