historicalpoliticalcartoons

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Norway - That Isn’t So Bad - I Might Do it Myself

July 4, 1905

Norway sits on a fence and watches Sammy’s Independence Day celebrations on the 4th of July. Uncle Sam celebrates with an eagle and they set off fireworks.

Norway was in the process of seeking its independence from Sweden. They would achieve it on October 26th of the same year.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/5686

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

An Unconfirmed Report

March 19, 1904

An astronomer War Correspondent sights the Vladivostok fleet sailing around Mars.

The caption reads “By Wireless Telegraphy - The Vladivostok fleet was this morning sighted sailing about Mars. Later - One torpedo boat destroyer was wrecked by accidentally bumping into a falling star.”

Recent news reports had placed the Russian Vladivostok fleet in multiple locations, causing some uncertainty.

See Also: Russo-Japanese War

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4496

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Not a Dead Letter

March 16, 1904

The Sherman Anti-Trust Law leaps out of its coffin at the funeral, punching out the Railroad Trust and sending the other trusts running.

The caption reads “An unexpected interruption to the funeral.”

The Sherman Anti-Trust law had been widely ignored and unenforced, until the Supreme Court ruled against the merger of the Northwest Railroads. 

See Also: Trust and Antitrust

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4710

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

“Turning the Other Cheek”

March 17, 1904

Russia, wounded on the Navy side of his face and bandaged with Naval Defeats, turns the Army cheek towards Japan, who is rolling up his sleeves.

Russia had been defeated in several naval battles, and their fleet was trapped in Port Arthur. However, they were still fighting the Japanese Army.

See Also: Russo-Japanese War

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4802

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Japan’s Reply

January 11, 1904

Having received a message from Russia, Japan paints a reply. Copying from a book ‘The Polite Letter Writer’ He writes in calligraphy a large WAR. Russia peers over the wall in shock and dismay.

The caption reads “It Looks Like War.”

Negotiations between Japan and Russia over spheres of influence were breaking down, as neither side would move from their positions.

See Also: Russo-Japanese War

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/5167

#political cartoon #historical political cartoon

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Political Appendicitis

August 12, 1903

Dr. Russia sharpens a knife to operate on Turkey, the Sick Man of Europe.

The caption reads “Dr. Russia Seems to Consider an Operation Inevitable.”

Russia was attempting to project its power into the Ottoman occupied Balkans region after the murder of a Russian diplomat.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/5154/rec/80

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Too Big a Bird

April 16, 1903

Macedonia, carrying a War hatchet, backs off quickly when he encounters the huge Turkey. 

The caption reads “Macedonia - No, I Don’t Want Turkey! Who Said I Was Looking for Turkey?" 

After a period of unrest, the leaders of the Macedonian independence movement decided not to pursue a general uprising against Turkey, in part because of a lack of European intervention.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4518/rec/66

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

“Just Another Mexican Revolution,” 4/4/1919

Series: Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896 - 1949 Record Group 46: Records of the U.S. Senate, 1789 - 2015

Learn more about our Clifford K. Berryman political cartoon collection.

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Uncle Sam Takes a Little Physical Culture

February 20, 1903

Uncle Sam, with arms Navy and Army, flexes in front of a mirror. A paper reads “Navy Appropriations. Get strong right arm movement. New warships cruisers training ships. Double number of cadets enlarge naval academy.” 

The House had just passed a new Appropriations Bill for the Navy, increasing its size greatly.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/5049/rec/38

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

The duty of the hour; - to save her not only from Spain, but from a worse fate

Print shows a female figure labeled "Cuba" holding the Cuban flag, caught in a frying pan labeled "Spanish Misrule" that is being held above flames labeled "Anarchy" raging between fighting factions labeled "Insurgents" on the left and "Autonomists" on the right, on the island of Cuba.

#historical political cartoon

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Hatching Trouble

February 9, 1903

Turkey roosts on the War egg/bomb in the Macedonia nest. 

Turkey had shifted hundreds of thousands of troops to prepare for a potential uprising in Macedonia.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/5008/rec/28

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

David and Goliath to Date

February 12, 1903

Secretary of Commerce George Cortelyou faces off against the giant Trusts, sling at hand. 

Roosevelt had made a new Department of Commerce and Labor, to combat the trusts, and Cortelyou was assumed to be his choice to lead it. See Also: Trusts and Antitrust; George Cortelyou

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4997/rec/31

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

“Wounded Rat at the Hands of Vengeful Cats” 2/8/1919

Series: Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896 - 1949. Record Group 46: Records of the U.S. Senate, 1789 - 2015. 

The Paris Peace Conference attracted the heads of state and leading government officials of the victorious Allied nations to negotiate a peace agreement with Germany and its allies. Cartoonist Clifford Berryman shows a wounded rat representing Germany pleading with the “peace conference” cat. Keeping a close eye on the discussions is a second cat representing Marshal Foch and the remaining Allied forces which were ready to pounce again on Germany if that country did not follow the dictates of the victorious Allied powers. The German rat pleads with (or threatens) the Allied cat “don’t you try to put anything over on me!”

Learn more about our Clifford K. Berryman political cartoon collection.

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

The Hat is Not Yet Out of Danger

February 5, 1903

The world strolls down the street, wearing hat ‘The Peace of the World’; Venezuela hurls a snowball at it, and Trouble in Turkey lurks around the corner with an armful of snowballs.

There was an ongoing blockade of Venezuela by Germany and Britain. There was also a revolution brewing in Turkey for Macedonian independence.

See Also: Venezuelan Crisis of 1902

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4788/rec/26

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

“A Great Role Assigned to U.S.” – President’s Message

December 3, 1902

Uncle Sam, in mittens and stocking cap, cheerfully rolls a giant snow ball shaped like the Earth. 

President Roosevelt had just declared that the US needed to take a greater role in world affairs in his State of the Union message the previous day.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/5177/rec/319

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

Our Troublesome Neighbor

October 3, 1902

Uncle Sam cuts South America, full of violence, off of Panama, and watches it drift away. 

The caption reads “How Nice It Would Be Could Uncle Sam Set South America Adrift When He Cuts the Ditch Between.”

The United States was preparing to begin work on the Panama Canal, but an civil war between Colombia and Panamanian separatists was disrupting the region.

See Also: Panama Canal

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4405/rec/263

[historicalpoliticalcartoons]

A Bad Egg

September 25, 1902

Orville Platt (as Humpty Dumpty) falls from the wall of Political Supremacy, but won’t give up. He holds a scepter labelled The Easy Boss.

The caption reads “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But no matter how far he may fall nor how flat, No tumble can fracture the nerve of Old Platt.”

Platt was a Senator from Connecticut, and one of the most powerful men in the Senate. He was also one of the most conservative and pro-business senators in a time when public opinion was swinging against that.

From Hennepin County Library

Original available at: https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/Bart/id/4957/rec/255