Content note: A painted scene of a ragged woman holding two infants amid smoke and debris, as issued, used to appeal for bond purchases. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Must Children Die and Mothers Plead in Vain? Buy More Liberty Bonds
A painted scene shows a woman in ragged clothes holding two infants, pointing upward amid smoke and household debris, beside the question 'Must children die and mothers plead in vain?' The poster pairs an image of civilian suffering with a financial request, asking the viewer to answer the question by buying Liberty Bonds.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- U.S. Treasury Department (Liberty Loan campaign)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Fundraise
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
U.S. Treasury Department (Liberty Loan campaign). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-231.
Text on the object
MUST CHILDREN DIE AND MOTHERS PLEAD IN VAIN ? Buy More [L]IBERTY BONDS [imprint line at bottom right: illegible]
The first letter of 'LIBERTY' is cut off in the scan.
