POLITICAL CARTOON ANALYSIS:::: PUERTO RICO

By: Nick O’Connell and Brandon Armitt

APUSH Block #5

October, 2014

CARTOON::: SCHOOL BEGINS

CARTOON ANALYSIS

Representations: 1. Uncle Sam: United States is the “Benevolent” Dominator 2. Forward Students: Ignorant Savages [Latin American Countries] Whom

Which the United States has the Devine Task to Govern/Bring to Stability 3. Rear Students: Grateful States [Arizona, California, New Mexico, Etc.] Whom

Which the United States has Transformed into Stable, Thriving States 4. Chalk-Board Content: Ideals Behind Imperialism -> Advance World

Civilization Through Increase in Power 5. African American Cleaner: African American’s Still the Forgotten Inferior

Race

Symbolism: Cartoon is Symbolic of the United State’s Ideas that they Would Control

Territories Until they can Govern Themselves/Establish Secure Progression Excuse to Expand Power Across Breadth of Western Hemisphere

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2 3

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HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Time Period: 1898 [Treaty of Paris] – 1917 [Wilson’s New Freedom]

Presidents: Initial: William McKinley [1898] Final: Woodrow Wilson [1917]

CAUSES OF INTERACTION

The Spanish-American War [1898] Treaty of Paris [Peace Treaty] – December 10, 1898

Recognition of Cuban Independence U.S. Acquisition of Puerto Rico & Guam Purchase of Philippines from Spain Controversy Surrounding the Treaty – Could America Handle

International Territory in Which Population was of a Different Race & Culture?

Reasons for Acquiring Puerto Rico: Increase World Dominance [Politically & Economically] Strategic Naval & Marine Base [ Refueling / Restocking]

EFFECTS OF INTERACTION

Large Debate over Imperialism Formation of the Anti-Imperialist League

Insular Cases: Debate over Whether Constitutional Rights Followed the U.S. Flag

Anti-Imperialists: Yes Imperialists: No Result: Extension of Rights not Automatic, Power of Decision Belongs to

Congress

Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom & Moral Diplomacy: Demonstrate U.S. Respect Towards Other Nations’ Rights Congress in 1917 Granted U.S. Citizenship to the Inhabitants of Puerto Rico

Limited Self-Government

VALUE OF SOURCE

Imperialistic Power of United States to Spread for Economic and Political Gains

United States Believed they had Devine Right to Govern Inferior Countries

America Still Contained its Prejudice Towards African Americans

Way of Thinking: American-Centric Ideals What Will Most Benefit America?

LIMITATIONS OF SOURCE

Source Depicts America as the “Almighty” World Power Value Lost as it Degrades African Americans, Asians, & Other Past-

Inferior Races

African Americans: Still Viewed as Lowest-Class Cartoon: Cleaning the Windows

Asians: Prohibited from Entering Country [Chinese Exclusion Act] Cartoon: Placed by the Door Symbolizing Inability to Enter America

Limitation: America Helped Struggling Nations Such as Puerto Rico Achieve Independence & Stability

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

To What Extent was US Territorial Expansion a Proper and Legitimate Policy for the United States to Follow at the Turn of the Nineteenth Century? Justified as it Enabled the United States to Become a World Super-

Power in all Spheres of Society [Politically, Militarily, Economically] Expansion Allowed for the Acquisition of Lands that Benefitted Naval

& Marine Operations Manifest Destiny Called for Expansion Assist Other Countries Revolutions/Desire for Independence