---
title: '"Democracy in Action" No. II (George Washington Carver Liberty Ship)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-2-carver-1943/
description: A Liberty ship with the name 'George Washington Carver' on its bow steams through rough seas, while a large portrait of the scientist appears in a halo
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. "Democracy in Action" No. II (George Washington Carver Liberty Ship)

[!["Democracy in Action" No. II, 1943 US cartoon: A Liberty ship with the name 'George Washington Carver' on its bow steams](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-2-carver-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-2-carver-1943.jpg)

# "Democracy in Action" No. II (George Washington Carver Liberty Ship)

A Liberty ship with the name 'George Washington Carver' on its bow steams through rough seas, while a large portrait of the scientist appears in a halo of light above its smoke. The tell is transfer: the respect attached to Carver is lent to the ship and to the phrase 'democracy in action', a glittering generality.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/) [Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

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

```
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER

"A GREAT NAME
CONTINUES IN THE SERVICE
OF HUMANITY ——"

Alston OWI

"DEMOCRACY IN ACTION"
No.II
```

[← "Democracy in action!!" (Booker T. Washington Liberty ship)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-booker-t-washington-1943/) ["Democracy in Action" No. IV (Leonard Roy Harmon) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-iv-harmon-1943/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Colour lithograph of the Latin text of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti on the wall of the temple of Roma and Augustus at Ancyra, with the heading in large letters (Perrot, Guillaume and Delbet, 1872)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lithograph-res-gestae-ancyra-heading-0014/) (Roman Empire · 0014 · Card stacking, Glittering generalities)
- [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities)
- [Gold solidus of Constantine I, reverse RESTITVTORI LIBERTATIS](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-constantine-i-restitutori-libertatis-0313/) (Roman Empire · 0313 · Glittering generalities)
- [Gold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-justinian-i-victoria-avggg-0538/) (Byzantine Empire · 0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [The Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (Royal Museums Greenwich version), oil on panel](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/armada-portrait-elizabeth-i-greenwich-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Medal of Elizabeth I: portrait in a ruff, reverse an ark on stormy waves with SAEVAS TRANQVILLA PER VNDAS (18th-century aftercast of a 1588 model)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/elizabeth-i-ark-medal-aftercast-1588/) (England · 1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)