Political Cartoons Then and Now
By Rohan Patel
Economic Issue Then
In this political cartoon, there is a tall, slender man, who is carrying a large and small bag. The small bag is labeled “Carpetbagger South” and the large one is labeled “Carpetbag From Wisconsin.” The large bag over his shoulder is exaggerated a lot. The South bag is meant to be small to represent the south’s small and terrible economy. This shows how he wants to go to the south to make more money for the already large north. This connects to opportunity because the man is trying to make money for himself and the north, even while he doesn't realize that he angering the south.
Economical Issue Now
In this cartoon, there are two posters, that represent the two sides of Mexican Immigration. One sign shows that some people, mostly big companies, support mexican immigration, while the other one does not. It shows that some, including the police, don’t want mexican immigration. This connects to carpetbaggers because during their times, some people were for going to the south to make money, and some were against it. Each have to do with people making a better life for them. This goes the under the ideal of opportunity because people are trying to get the best life for them and their families. I think that we as a nation have moved toward this ideal because we are making some headway. People are getting better chances at a better life.
Social Issue Then
In this cartoon, there is a black man, who is standing on a long road, and a white man how is on an escalator. Along the long, winding road, there are several obstacles. The road the black man on represents the hardships a African American faced when voting. There were several reasons why they couldn't vote. The obstacles represent that fact that there were so many things some whites did to deter black from voting, including donning the mask of the Ku Klux Klan. And then on the other side, the white man is going up an escalator. Obviously in the 1800’s they didn't have escalators, so it represents an easy road. He has an easy way of getting to the voting area, while the black man does not. This goes with the ideal of equality because the black had not the same chance as a white to vote.
Political Issue Now
This political cartoon depicts the struggle women faced when trying to cast her ballot in the early 1900’s. The women is being held back by a police officer, and being pushed away by a ragged man. It is contradictory how the man, who is most likely uneducated or has very little education, can vote while the woman, who looks upper class and is highly educated, cannot vote. The police officer represent how laws held back women’s right including what she is doing now. Trying to cast a ballot. This cartoon definitely connects the ideal of equality, or lack thereof. The uneducated man can vote, when the educated woman cannot. We as a society have moved toward this ideal. Women can now vote, and so can others like African Americans, Latinos, etc.