This map appeared on the cover of Life magazine on 10 February 1916. The world was embroiled in the First World War, but the United States was still maintaining its neutrality.
With this propaganda map, Life magazine wanted to show the possible outcome of the government's decision to remain neutral. Most of the country appears under the name “New Prussia”, in reference to a possible German occupation. The state of New Mexico, in the central part, is renamed “American Reservation,” simulating the name given to Native American reservations after European occupation. The rest of the country also comes under the control of other powers, with “Japonica” on the west coast and “Turconia” in Florida.
Mexico, for its part, also comes under the control of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with Baja California labelled “Austrian” and the rest of the country as “Province of Mexico”. Canada, meanwhile, appears as a country of barbarians, “Barbarians”.
The map has a multitude of small details that delve into the same idea:
- Puerto Rico is renamed “New Roumania”
- Mexico City is renamed “Wilhelmsburg”
- Houston is renamed “New Bremen”
- New Orleans is renamed “New Hamborg”.”
- Washington is renamed “New Berlin”
- Chicago is renamed “Schlauterhaus”
- Jacksonville is renamed “Baghdad Corners”
- San Francisco is renamed “San Sisko”
- Seattle is renamed “Nagaseattle”.”
On 6 April 1917, barely a year later, the United States would enter the First World War on the side of the Triple Entente.
In this article You can find more information about how these types of maps were used in the United States as part of a persuasive discourse to convince the population of the need to participate in the war.
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