During World War I, government propaganda most likely contributed to which of the following?

The correct answer is that government propaganda during World War I most likely contributed to increased fear of foreigners and immigrants. Throughout the war, propaganda was extensively used to rally public support for the war effort and to foster a sense of national unity. A key component of this campaign was the portrayal of enemy nations and their citizens as dangerous threats to American values and security.

This atmosphere of fear and suspicion often extended to immigrants, particularly those from countries that were perceived as enemies, such as Germany and Austria-Hungary. Propaganda depicted these groups in a negative light, encouraging citizens to suspect immigrants of disloyalty. This not only intensified xenophobia but also led to actions such as the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918, which further criminalized dissent and targeted those deemed as unpatriotic.

In this context, the propagation of fear about foreigners and immigrants was instrumental in shaping public opinion, thereby highlighting how effective propaganda can be in influencing social attitudes during periods of conflict.