the sinking of the uss maine helped cause the u.s. to ......president wilson led congress to declare...

Cutthissheetalongthedottedlines

WarwithSpainandtheAgeofImperialism:1898-1899

ThesinkingoftheUSSMainehelpedcausetheU.S.tofightfortheindependenceofCuba.

PublicationDate:April17,1898NAID:306119Description:An armed Uncle Sam charges from the Capitol carrying a note reading “Maine Affair” in a cartoonpublished on the day after a Senate resolution recognized the independence of Cuba from Spanishrule. ThenotereferstotheexplosionoftheAmericanbattleshipUSSMaine inHavana,aneventthattriggereddemandsforU.S.involvementinthelong-runningstruggleforindependence.Spanishtacticsinputting down the revolt disturbedmanyAmericans. Although PresidentGrover Cleveland proclaimedU.S. neutrality, sensation-driven newspapers called forwar. In 1897, newly elected PresidentWilliamMcKinleycautionedpatience,buttheexplosionoftheMaineshatteredU.S.relationswithSpainandledtoadeclarationofwaronApril25,1898.



WarwithSpaincausedtheU.S.torethinkitslong-heldprincipleofanti-colonialism.

PublicationDate:July13,1898NAID:6010279Description:UncleSamstandsattheintersectionofthenarrowlanelabeled“MonroeDoctrine”andthewider“ImperialHighway” and ponders which direction to take on the new road. Uncle Sam’s hesitation suggests theimportanceofhisdecision.RecenteventshadpromptedtheUnitedStatestore-thinklong-heldideasaboutforeignpolicy.CongresshaddeclaredwartofreeCubafrominhumaneSpanishrule,buttheU.S.expandedthe fightingbyattackingotherSpanishcolonies including thePhilippinesandPuertoRico.Wouldvictorytransfer these colonial possessions toAmerican rule?AsU.S. troops capturedCuba and thePhilippines,PresidentMcKinleysignedlegislationannexingHawaii.UncleSamwasindeedventuringontotheimperialhighway,buthowfarthenationwouldtraveldownthisnewpathwasnotyetdecided.



AddingterritoriesexpandedbordersbutalarmedtheopponentsofaU.S.empire.

PublicationDate:September14,1899NAID:6010331Description:UncleSam’sexpandedwaistlineissymbolicoftherapidpaceofU.S.territorialexpansion.AtreatyaddingHawaii to the United States and victory over Spain brought the U.S. several new territories, includingHawaii,PuertoRico,Cuba,andthePhilippines,alllistedonthemenushowninthecartoon.AmericapaidSpain$20milliontoannexthePhilippines,Guam,andPuertoRico,butthepurchaseonlyintensifiedthePhilippineindependencemovement.ThefiguresshowninthedoorwayrepresenttheAnti-Expansionistsinthe Republican Party led by Senator George Hoar, and the Anti-Imperialist Democrats led by WilliamJenningsBryan.


TheEraoftheBigStickandDollarDiplomacy:1903-1913

TheprotectionofconstitutionalrightsfollowstheU.S.flag.

PublicationDate:March2,1900NAID:6010344Description:BerrymanassertstheindivisiblelinkoftheConstitutionandtheflagthroughhisreferencetothetaleoffaithfulcompanionshiptoldinthebiblicalstoryofRuthandNaomi,whereNaomipledgedtofollowhermother-in-law Ruth wherever she went. This cartoon identifies Berryman with the position ofexpansionistswhofavoredextendingU.S.citizenshiptoterritorialresidents.Commercialexpansionists,bycontrast, favoredU.S.ownershipof landwithoutextendingcitizenship. Athirdpowerful faction inthedebate,theAnti-Expansionists,opposedholdingcoloniesaltogether,claimingthataddingterritorialpossessionsandpeopletransformedtheUnitedStatesintoanempireandwentagainsttheanti-colonialfoundingspiritoftheAmericanrepublic.


TheEraoftheBigStickandDollarDiplomacy:1903-1913

“DollarDiplomacy”referstousingU.S.investmentstogainglobalinfluence.

PublicationDate:August181909NAID:6010812Description:The cartoon refers to the 1909 railroad construction loansmade byWestern powers to China. TheHankouloanwasoriginallynegotiatedasanarrangementexclusivelybetweenFrance,Germany,GreatBritain,andChina.TheUnitedStates, feelingthat itsexclusionwasan injusticethreatening its futureroleinChina,workeditswayintothedeal.GreatBritainreportedlywaspleasedbythisdevelopmentastheypreferredAmericaasapartneroverGermany.Thecartoon reflects theclosenessof theUnitedStatesandGreatBritainastheyappearintheforefrontsmilingatoneanother.Berrymanpresentstheloan as beneficial to itsWesternparticipants, and acknowledges the resentmentof thepowerswhowereexcludedfromit.


TheEraoftheBigStickandDollarDiplomacy:1903–1913

TheU.S.createdapathbetweentheseasthatrevolutionizedglobaltrade.

PublicationDate:August15,1914NAID:6011066Description:ThePanamaCanalopenedforbusinessonthedaythiscartoonwaspublished.ItshowsUncleSamwelcomingshipsandidentifiestheAtlanticandPacificOceansasthewaterway’sendpoints.UncleSamproudlywavesaflag,celebratingAmerica’striumphincompletingtheproject.TheopeningceremonyforthecanalwasagrandaffairthatcoincidedwiththefirstweeksofWorldWarI.TheU.S.declaredthatthecanalwouldremainneutral,allowingaccesstoallEuropeannations.Berryman’scartoonhighlightstheinternationalsignificanceofthecanalandAmerica’sincreasingimportanceintheworld.


WorldWarIBeginsinEurope:1914-1916

PresidentWoodrowWilsonledapolicyofU.S.neutralityattheoutbreakofWorldWarI.

PublicationDate:August19,1914 NAID:6011069

Description:PublishedweeksafterwarbrokeoutinEurope,thisimageshowsPresidentWoodrowWilsonstandingatthe coast reasoning with Uncle Sam for American calmness in the face of the battle shown in thedistance.InhisAugust19statementonneutralityWilsoncalleduponall“thoughtfulmen”tobeguardedinpublic statementsabout thewar.He cautioned that, “Theeffectof thewarupon theUnitedStateswilldependuponwhatAmericancitizenssayanddo…”



AtlantictradewascrucialtotheU.S.,butblockadesmadeneutralitydifficulttomaintain.

PublicationDate:February13,1915 NAID:6011098

Description:TherightsofneutralcountriestonavigatetheAtlanticwereattheforefrontofpublicattention inearly1915whenGermanyimposedtheworld’sfirstsubmarineblockade.ThecliffUncleSaminchesalonginthiscartoon displays phrases showing the danger of conducting neutral trade in seas patrolled bysubmarines.OnFebruary1,theheadlinesweredominatedbynewsofaGermansubmarineblockadeofGreatBritain. OnFebruary10, theUnitedStates separatelywarnedGreatBritain andGermanynot tointerferewithU.S.shipping.Adaylater,GreatBritaindeclaredablockadeofGermanports.Theblockadesraisedalarmsaboutthesafetyofshipsflyingtheflagsofneutralnations.Theyalsoraisedtheissueofshipsfromnationsatwarflyingtheflagsofneutralnationstoavoidcapture.Weeksearlier, forexample,theBritishlinerLusitaniahadsparkedinternationalcontroversybyflyingtheU.S.flagtoavoidattackwhileoffthecoastofIreland.



AnewprogramofunrestrictedsubmarineattacksonshippingdoomedU.S.neutrality.

PublicationDate:February1,1917 NAID:6011191

Description:Berryman depicts Uncle Sam’s response to the German declaration of unrestricted submarinewarfareagainstanyshipsintheblockadezonearoundtheBritishIsles.Thenewdeclarationwasadeparturefromassurances Germany gave after the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, and the Sussex Pledge in 1916,agreeingnottosinkpassengervesselsormerchantshipsnotcarryingwarmaterials.PresidentWilsonhadbeenre-electedtoasecondterminNovember,1916,onthestrengthofhishavingkepttheU.S.outofthewar,butnowfacedachallenge.TheU.S.waseconomicallydependentonshipping,andbelievedinarighttofreeseas.MaintainingapolicyofneutralitywouldmeansurrenderingtherighttoshipgoodsacrosstheAtlanticandwouldleaveAmericanoceantravelersatthemercyofGermanU-boatattacks.


AmericaEntersWorldWarI:1917

PresidentWilsonledCongresstodeclarewarto“maketheworldsafefordemocracy.”

PublicationDate:April2,1917 NAID:6011220

Description:TheHouseandSenatesaluteUncleSamastheyreportfordutyinacartoonpublishedonthedaythe65thCongressmettohearPresidentWoodrowWilson’swarmessage. PapersonthedeskrefertotheGermanpolicy of unrestricted submarinewarfare that promptedWilson to call Congress into session. Events hadunfoldedquickly in recentweeks.Germanyhaddeclaredopenwarat seaonFebruary1,andWilsonhadresponded inMarch by arming U.S. merchant ships. In his warmessage to Congress,Wilson argued forAmericatofightagainstGermanyforfreeseasanda“worldmadesafefordemocracy.”



BuyingLibertyBondshelpedtheU.S.payforthewaranddemonstratedpublicsupport.

PublicationDate:October13,1917NAID:6011293Description:AnAmericanpurchasesa libertybondtosendamessagetotheGermanKaiser.Thiswasoneof18cartoonsBerrymandrewinOctober,1917,supportingthesecondLibertyBonddrive.LibertyBondswerenotesissuedbytheU.S.TreasuryandsoldtothepublicthroughFederalReserveBankstohelpfinanceWorldWarI.TheFederalGovernmentgeneratedincometopayforthewarwithacombinationofnewtaxesandmoneyraisedfrombondsales.TheSecondLibertyLoancampaignwasoneoffourbonddrivesnationallyadvertisedthroughvividpostersandothermedia.TheLibertyBonddrivesprovedahighly-effectivemeansofenlistingpublicsupportforthewareffort.



WithGermansupport,thecommunistBolsheviksledRussiatoleaveWorldWarI.

PublicationDate:October13,1917NAID:6011293Description:The confused lookon the faceof thebear representingRussia in this cartoonmatched the conflicting,uncertainnewsAmericanreaderswerereceivingaboutfighting inRussiabetweenBolshevikarmiesandsupporters of Alexander Kerensky, Head of the Provisional Government that ruled Russia from July toNovember,1917.Here,Kerensky isdepictedasa rescuerbecausehepledgedtocontinueRussia’s fightagainst Germany on the Eastern Front. Berryman’s image links the Bolsheviks to Germany, reflectingGermansupportforBolshevikleader,V.I.Lenin,whofavoredpeacewithGermany.TheBolsheviksgainedcontrolof theRussiangovernment inNovember,1917,andnegotiated theTreatyofBrest-LitovskwithGermany,endingRussianparticipationinthewar.


AmericaatWarinEurope:1918

TheU.S.governmentmanagedtherailroadandtelephonesystemsforwartimeefficiency.

PublicationDate:February24,1918NAID:6011355Description:“Cutting inontheWire”showsUncleSamcalling“Mr.TelephoneCo.”andofferingtotakeoverphoneserviceduringthewar.ThiscartoonwasdrawnatthebeginningoftheUnitedStatesPostalService’spushto acquire the District of Columbia’s telephone service from the Chesapeake & Potomac TelephoneCompany (C&P).MemosonUncleSam’sdesk listother related industries thatwerenationalized in theinterest of thewar efforts Congress passed a joint resolution on July 16, 1918, granting the Presidentpowertonationalizethetelephonesystemsforthedurationofthewar.PresidentWilsonannouncedthatthe PostOfficewould take control of the phone systemon July 31. Following thewar, legislationwaspassedreturningthephonesystemtoprivateownership.



U.S.troopswerekeytotheAllies’haltingthefinalGermanassaultonParis.

PublicationDate:July26,1918NAID:6011467Description:This cartoon, featuringabulldog labeled“Allies”yankingat thecoatofabandagedand fleeingGermansoldier,representstheGermanretreataftertheSecondBattleoftheMarne.AsignpointingtowardsParisfacesintheoppositedirection,andthephrase“prematureParisprogram”iswrittenonanotelyinginthedust.AturningpointinWorldWarI,thebattlebeganonJuly15,1918,astheGermansmarchedtowardParishopingtocapturetheFrenchcapitalandendthewar.AnAlliedcounteroffensivehadbegunonJuly18andpushedtheGermanlinesback30miles.ThiseffortinvolvedmoreAmericansoldiersthananybattlefoughtsincetheCivilWar.ThecartoondramatizestheGermanretreatandcelebratesanAlliedvictoryinwhichAmericansplayedaleadingrole.



ContributionstoAlliedvictoryinWorldWarImadetheU.S.aleadingworldpower.

PublicationDate:October8,1918 NAID:6011512

Description:“IntheWorldSpotlight”appearedonthefrontpageofTheEveningStarasPresidentWoodrowWilsonwasconsideringarequestforpeacereceivedfromthenewGermanChancellor,PrinceMaximilianofBaden.ThecartoonwaspublishedalongsideanarticlereportingWilson’s insistencethatGermanyremove itstroopsfrominvadedcountriesasapreconditiontopeace.Berryman’scartoonillustratesWilson’sandAmerica’scentral role in preparing for the peace negotiations that would end World War I. Wilson seized theinternational spotlight when he outlined his “Fourteen Points” for peace in an address to Congress onJanuary8,1918.

ThePost-WarQuestforPeace:1919–1938

TheRussianBolsheviks’beliefincommunistrevolutionthreatenedworldstability.

PublicationDate:January10,1919 NAID:6011546

Description:A classical Greco-Roman woman armed with a sword and shield representing civilization standscautiously between a wild-haired, frightening man representing bolshevism and a handcuffedandchained German soldier representing militarism. The cartoon suggests that although civilizationhasbeatenGermany, itnow facesanew threat.Anarticlepublished inTheEveningStar on the samedaysuggested that theAllies saw itasAmerica’s responsibility to“police”Europe.Berryman’scartoonreflects the European fear that bolshevism would solidify its control over Russia and fill the powervacuumleftbythewarinGermanyandEasternEurope.Publishedatatimewhenhungerandpoliticalinstability fueledwidespreadrevolutionarymovements, thiscartoonreflectsanuneasy realization thatthewar fought by America to make the world safe for democracy has not ended, but rather hasexpanded into awiderresponsibilityofpreservingcivilizedorder.




TheSenaterejectedtheTreatyofVersaillesbecauseitsArticleXcreatedaLeagueofNations.

PublicationDate:October19,1920 NAID:6011640

Description:The Treaty of Versailles and U.S. membership in the League of Nations were central issues in the 1920Presidentialcampaign.ArticleXoftheCovenantoftheLeagueofNationsrequiredmemberstoassistanyothermemberintheeventofaninvasionorattack.PresidentWoodrowWilsonhadsubmittedtheTreatyforSenateratification,but itwasrejectedduetoopposition ledbySenatorsopposedtoforeignentanglements.Publicopinionsplitduringthe1920PresidentialcampaignbetweenadvocatesforU.S.participationininternationalpeacekeeping treaties and those favoring isolationism. Berryman’s cartoon captures the bitterness of thecampaign.RejectedbytheSenateandunpopularwithmanyvoters,ArticleXwasanoutcastontherun.“Noginger”wasasportstermforateamthatshowednoenergy,suggestingthatthecampaignhadbeena lotmorespiritedthanexpected.



TheKellogg-BriandPactwasaninternationaltreatytoachieveworldpeacebyoutlawingwar.

PublicationDate:August27,1928NAID:6011968Description:A figure representingMars, the Roman god of war, plods sadly across a barren and empty landscapetowardthesunset,followingnewsthat15nationshadsignedtheKellogg-BriandPactoutlawingwarasaninstrument of foreign policy. Eventually, 34 additional countries would sign the pact, reflecting anoptimistichopeforthepreventionoffuturewars.Publicopinionranstronglyinfavorofthetreaty,andtheSenate received many petitions supporting its ratification. Published a decade after history’s mostdestructivewar,Berryman’scartoonsuggestshopeforthefuturebyshowingthedepartureofthegodofwar,butthesomberscenealludestothevastdestructionoftherecentWorldWarandtempersanysenseofimmediatejoy.


StormCloudsGathering–WorldWarIIontheHorizon:1939–1940

TheaggressiveactionsofGermanleader,AdolfHitler,shatteredpost-warhopesforpeace.

PublicationDate:August20,1939NAID:6012197Description:Bylatesummer,1939Hitlerwasonthemarch.ThiscartoonwaspublishedthedayafterGermanyseizedcontrolofSlovakia,andas100,000GermanandSlovaktroopsmassedalongthePolishborderreadytoinvade.Giventherecenthistoryofwar,theseeventsraisedalarminFrance,theUnitedKingdom,andtheUnitedStates, representedby the figures in this image.Twodaysafter thiscartoonwaspublished theSovietUnionandGermanyannouncedanon-aggressionpact,clearingthewayfortheNazi invasionofPoland.BerrymansharesUncleSam’sworrythatAmericanpoliciesofisolationandneutralitywouldnotinsulatethecountryfromtheNazithreat.



Seekingtoavoidasecondworldwar,manyU.S.leaderssupportedapolicyofneutrality.

PublicationDate:September7,1939NAID:6011202Description:Thiscartoonshowsthreeprominentisolationistsenatorsstaringblindlyatawall labeled,“neutrality,”whileembattledEuropeisshownengulfedinacloudofsmoke.ThefiguresinthecartoonareWilliamBorahofIdaho,GeraldNyeofNorthDakota,andHiramJohnsonofCalifornia,ProgressiveRepublicanSenatorswhosharedalonghistoryof leadingefforts tokeep theUnitedStatesoutof internationalalliancesandwars.BorahhadopposedtheTreatyofVersaillesandwasagainstAmerica’sjoiningtheLeagueofNations.NyehadchairedaninvestigativecommitteeharshlycriticalofU.S.entryintotheWorldWarI.JohnsonsponsoredtheNeutralityActs inCongressandopposedPresidentFranklinD.Roosevelt’sproposal tosellplanesandarmstoFrance.WorldWar Iwas fresh in thepublicmemory, and isolationists still resentedAmerica’s involvement. In thiscartoon,Berrymanmockstheshort-sightednessofisolationism.



PresidentFranklinD.Rooseveltproposedsupplyingarmstorepublicsresistinginvasion.

PublicationDate:September2,1940NAID:6012217 Description:ThiscartoonwaspublishedonLaborDay,fourdaysaftertheSenatepassed,andastheHousedebated,theSelectiveTrainingandServiceActof1940.TheActestablishedthefirstpeacetimedraftinAmericanhistoryandallowedthegovernmenttotakeoverindustryforwartimeproduction.ThiscartoonshowsUncle Sam hammering plows into swords, an inversion of a Bible verse in which nations “hammerswordsintoplowshares.”ByproposingthatAmericaproducethe“1940model”sword,Berrymanshowshissupportforwarpreparednessefforts.The“ArsenalofDemocracy”referredtointhiscartoon’stitle,becameasloganusedbyPresidentFranklinD.Roosevelttodescribethenation’sinternationalpolicy.

the sinking of the uss maine helped cause the u.s. to ......president wilson led congress to declare...

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