Third Liberty Loan

Royal blue background with red border along edge; illustration of Liberty Bell in white in middle; white text above and below bell

When the United States (US) entered World War I, the federal government began selling liberty bonds to citizens to help cover war expenses. These bonds, sold primarily by the girl and boy scouts, were small loans taken by the US government in which they would repay the citizens in the future. The first two Liberty Loan Acts proved insufficient, so a Third Liberty Loan Act was passed in 1918. It permitted the issuance of three billion dollars in war bonds at an interest rate of 4.5% for up to ten years. The Third Liberty Loan, also, proved insufficient, so the government passed a fourth act later the same year. It allowed even more funds at an even higher interest rate. Artists were commissioned to create posters.  Famous actors, such as Charlie Chaplin, gave speeches encouraging the public to do contribute to the war effort by purchasing liberty bonds.