political+cartoons+-+wwII

EKB- "The Old Man of the Sea"

This cartoon was created by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) who was a political cartoonist for a New York Newspaper, PM. His cartoons were acclaimed and especially controversial during WWII. They usually featured mockeries of foreign leaders, racism or were against isolationism (as this one is). He was heavily against the Neutrality Act of 1935 and believed that the United States needed to enter the war. This material must have been made post 1935 (after the said act was passed) but prior to 1941 (when the United States did enter the war) and would have been published in PM or other paying newspaper. Since this must have taken place after 1935, many Americans, still suffering from the Great Depression, would have supported the idea of creating jobs through the war effort. There are two references in this cartoon, one being the Neutrality Act of 1935 which forbade the transport, distribution or selling of supplies or ammunitions to belligerent nations, which kept the United States out of the war until attack was initiated on Pearl Harbor. This cartoon is speaking out against the Neutrality Act, and thus encouraging the entrance into World War II by the United States. The other reference is the symbol of the "Old Man of the Sea", a Greek myth that revolves around a god who would ride on people until they drowned, keeping them from reaching their destination due to his weight. Dr. Suess is referring to the Neutrality Act of 1935 as the "Old Man of the Sea" which is holding back U.S. boats full of supplies for the Allies from reaching Europe. The intended audience would have been the American public in general, in order to rally support for the end of the Neutrality Act, however men who could vote against the Act or have work and become soldiers if the U.S. were to enter the war. This material is important because it shows the American opposition to staying neutral but the government's desire to stay away from the war torn Europe.

APC: "Just Wait Until the Little Feller Grows Up"

While the name and date of the author is unknown, this cartoon depicts the time when the United States first entered World War II. In the picture a three headed enemy possesses several arms that branch from its body, each holding a weapon of war. This enemy is unified, representing the opposing force, the axis powers, who is attempting to eliminate the small allied forces. The difference in size of the two characters gives a sense of hopelessness for the infant (the United States). Each leader of the axis powers is clearly seen through their overall appearance, such as their hats or their well known facial features. The infant representing the United States is holding a slingshot which is only his only tool for combat. The slingshot is armed with a stone taken from the group of stones labeled "Allies." The cloth on the infant's diaper, displaying the year "1942" gives a time frame for the occurrence. This year represents the year the United States got involved in the war. When looking at the background, the black globe becomes apparent, which represents the large enemy's dominance over the world. Scattered across the globe are several white stones symbolizing the light of the world that is the allied forces. Also, the book on the ground displaying the words "David & Goliath," suggests that the cartoon is depicting a similar battle as the biblical story where a small boy defeated an angry giant. The book's text also predicts the downfall of the three-headed monster with the words "...and David slew the giant..." With a sarcastic tone, the title predicts the future collapse of the three-headed opponent. The usage of the word "Feller" represents the all-American mood that is presented through the infant. This further shows that the United States is being presented as the "David" in the battle. Therefore they are able to perceive the author's overall conclusion of the future victory of the Allied forces over the apparently invincible Axis forces.

JML:  Dr. Seuss, born as Theodore Seuss Geisel, made this cartoon. He was a democrat and made political cartoons for __PM__ prior to his children book’s career. He urged for America to join the war and for Americans to support it. While he was against anti-black and anti-semite beliefs, he viewed all Japanese people as threats to America, as shown in this cartoon. As depicted in this drawing, he believed Japanese Americans were simply waiting for orders to attack America with explosives. __PM__ was a leftist magazine. He made this cartoon for __PM__ and it was published on February 13th 1942, a few months after Pearl Harbor which clarifies why Dr. Seuss was so wary of the Japanese. People would have encountered this drawing in __PM__. This cartoon addresses the recurring issue of anti-Asian feelings and fears that started when the Chinese came to America to build railroads. It would help to know about Pearl Harbor and Japan’s involvement in the Axis Powers to fully comprehend this material and about the Japanese Internment Camps in America that appeared later that year. The Japanese Americans in the drawing are meant to represent all of the Japanese Americans during World War II. Dr. Seuss drew this for Americans, specifically Americans that had similar fears about Japanese Americans, making it somewhat biased because it matches the audience’s opinions. Americans were likely to pay attention to his cartoon and be influenced to share Dr. Seuss’ fear of Japanese Americans. While most Americans would react to this by becoming more fearful of Japanese Americans, the Japanese Americans would have been upset for being depicted as threats to America and afraid that people will see them as such. Dr. Seuss made this cartoon to convince Americans that the Japanese Americans were threats and he made it a few months after Pearl Harbor because that was when Americans were already wary about the Japanese. He addresses that American should do something to defend itself from its own Japanese citizens. Dr. Seuss argues that the Japanese Americans were a threat that needed to be dealt with before they would be signaled to attack America with explosives. This material is important because it reflects the anti-Japanese feelings present in America at the time. It implies that the Japanese Americans were a threat to the country. This cartoon increased Americans’ fear of the Japanese Americans which lead to the Japanese Internment Camps that started later that year.

SAF- Very little is known about the political cartoonist who constructed this cartoon or what publications it was featured in, all that is known is that the last name of the man is Greaves. What you can infer from the cartoon however is that this particular cartoonist and publication in which it was published pictured president Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a king/dictator and did not want him to be elected for a third term. This cartoon was produced in 1940, during an election year where FDR would be running for a third term against republican counterpart Wendell Wilkie. Unsurprisingly, FDR won the election with electoral votes at 449-82. However, many people- as depicted in this cartoon- vied FDR as a king and that he himself was above the law. This discouraged many Americans but obviously much more did not mind the somewhat dictatorial notion of serving a third term considering the election results. This material is aimed towards a voting population of adults, for the author to share his opinions on FDR and hopefully spark the same opinion in the reader’s mind so they would thus not vote for him in the election; many other cartoons also focused on this similar subject and produced similar cartoons. More uneducated and uninformed citizens that FDR was especially helping with his New Deal projects would be unaware of his partially dictator like qualities and therefore vote for him regardless because he was helping them. Because of the checks and balances system which FDR was attempting to avoid, many people viewed him as a dictator. At the time congress was mostly democratic and very compliant with nearly anything FDR wanted to pass and though the Court Packing Bill did not pass it would have called for an override of the judges who were not compliant with FDR’s ideas showing that he was attempting to dominate the system of checks and balance in a kingly manner. Though this and other similar materials had little effect, since FDR was then elected for a fourth term though he shortly after died in office, it did help spread the word of FDR’s dictatorial status and attempt to help even that out.

KHW:

KHW: "How're We Doing?" by Theodore Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss
Theodore Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) was a life-long cartoonist most famous for his children’s books and least known for his work as a political cartoonist during World War II. Between 1941 and 1943 he worked as chief editorial cartoonist at the PM Newspaper in New York, a liberal news publication, during which time he drew over 400 political cartoons. Illustrated in his typical style and signed Dr. Seuss, the cartoons addressed a wide range of war-time issues and controversies. In “How’re We Doing”, published in the PM on May 9th 1941, he shows two people in an undersized boat with toy weapons carrying aid to Britain. Most likely a reaction to the Lend-Lease Program put into effect on March 11th of the same year. The program was intended to send war material to the allied powers but an unintended consequence was the end of American neutrality. Britain began running low on money and supplies and pressured FDR for help. The Neutrality Acts forbade the sale of arms or the loaning of money to involved nations and stood in the way of American assistance. FDR created the Lend-Lease program as a way to get around the Neutrality Acts. The U.S. provided over fifty billion dollars worth of supplies, thirty-one billion of which was given to Britain. Over seventy-five percent of Americans were in support of the Lend-Lease program, most of which were liberal democrats and least of which were isolationist republicans. The PM newspaper was a leftist publication and Seuss was a liberal democrat as reflected in his cartoons which denounce isolationism and the conservative forces in American politics. The paper was often criticized for being communist because it employed some radical journalists, even though in reality the paper opposed communism. The biased beliefs and communist accusations damaged the credibility of the publication and Seuss’ cartoons. Seuss had published cartoons for other credible publications however such as the //Saturday Evening Post//, //Life//, //Vanity Fair//, and //Judge//. The majority of Americans supported FDR’s decision and would most likely agree with Seuss’ political views however conservative Americans probably disagreed with Seuss. “How’re We Doing?” reveals the anxiousness to get supplies to Britain as expressed by the “rush” sign on the box in the cartoon. Many Americans saw a lot of benefits to aiding the Allied powers without actually getting involved while others argue that aiding them was getting involved and ultimately led to the U.S. entering the war in December, 1941.

GEB

The author is this particular cartoon is unknown; however the message it sends is very clear. This cartoon displays the grim reaper as Hitler himself using “Social Darwinism” as an excuse to murder thousands of people, leaving nothing but graves behind. During WWII there was much conflict because the United States did not understand what they were getting into and especially because despite the deaths Hitler caused, so many people in Germany still believed in him. The large issue this brings up is Hitler’s killings of the Jews. Labor, concentration, and death camps were said to be wonderful places on the outside but really it was the opposite. Millions of people died in Germany and across Europe as a direct result of Hitler and his beliefs that the Arian race was the fittest and best (social darwinism) and therefore everyone else should be extinguished. This cartoon depicts Hitler in the back, obviously controlling the entire scene as he orders his soldiers to murder anyone Hitler saw fit. Hitler’s coat is filled to the brim with skeletons, a literal word play on the phrase “skeletons in the closet”. On the reaper’s head is the traditional Nazi helmet with the insignia, again showing it as Hitler’s puppet. Hitler also looks quite smug in this drawing because until the interventions it seemed like he was going to win and rule all of Europe and then try for the rest of the world. The reaper has a ghastly smiled on its face as its scythe reaches across what would be the world, or Europe, killing everything in its path. Additionally the use of grayscale for the cartoon emphasized the darkness and terribleness that Hitler brought about the world. The dead black within the reaper’s dress and the black coast used to cover up all the bodies. Reactions toward this would have varied depending on where it was produced. Anywhere within Hitler’s control it would have been thought of as slandering or as frightening that someone would risk their life for a cartoon to reveal how horrid their leader was. In the United States this cartoon would have been thought of as brilliant because it definitely depicts Hitler in the American’s eyes. In Germany to begin with, Hitler was wonderful, that is how he took power, by letting the people put him there, so some Germans still loved him. Americans only heard about the bad and so this would not come as a shock. The main idea of this drawing is that Hitler is ultimately bad for Germany, Europe, and the world because nothing can justify the murders of millions.

SLW--"Insure Your Home Against Hitler"

Theodor Seuss Geisel, more commonly known as Dr. Seuss, was the creator of this political cartoon. Dr. Seuss was a very biased cartoonist who condemned Hitler, Mussolini, and other leaders of the Axis powers and criticized those Americans who wanted to remain neutral during the war. Dr. Seuss also turned to posters and other propaganda that promoted United States involvement in World War II. This particular cartoon was drawn by Dr. Seuss to encourage the buying of war bonds by citizens to help finance the war. War bonds became a very large part of society in the United States throughout World War II because they became viewed as a way that citizens could participate in the war without actually fighting. Citizens felt that by simply buying a war bond, of which they were guaranteed the money back with interest within a certain margin of time, they could help protect the American way of life and keep communistic and fascist ideas far away from the nation. War bonds were also thought to reduce inflation. Unfortunately, the unintended consequence of war bonds was that they led to a rampantly growing national debt throughout the war. Although the source of publication for this cartoon is not directly stated, it is likely that it was part of Dr. Seuss’s support for the war effort that was created for the Treasury Department or the War Production Board. These two programs were created as efforts to re-tool industry for war production. They financed cartoonists, like Dr. Seuss, to make posters that would help showcase the importance of American involvement to help win the war. Dr. Seuss was also an editorial cartoonist for the magazine __PM__, a leftist magazine in New York City. This cartoon was created for American citizens in the hopes that they would join in the efforts to finance the war. Citizens were encouraged to purchase war bonds because they were a safe investment and could earn them money for the future. Dr. Seuss and other supporters for American support at the home front were very successful in encouraging citizens to get involved.

SL:

The author of this political cartoon is Dr. Seuss or Theodor Seuss Geisel, who is mostly remembered today for his popular children's books. Seuss actually started his career in advertising, eventually becoming Chief Editorial Cartoonist for PM in New York. WWII was not a topic that Seuss actively supported, however it became the subject for many of his political cartoons. This political cartoon was published on October 22, 1941. To better understand this political cartoon, especially the "He's a noisy little so-and so" quote, it's necessary to look back during the 1920s and 30s. During the Thirties, FDR instituted the "Good Neighbor Policy" in 1933 in which the United States became military involved in Latin American affairs. This included allowing these countries to maintain their current governments with American National Guard troops stationed in their countries. In Nicaragua, the dictator Anastasia Somoza was allowed to rule the country as long as National Guard Troops occupied the country. This allowance led to FDR "reputably" saying "He may be a (sob), but at least he's our (sob)". This irony is displayed within the political cartoon with the "GOPstrich" that "all ours!" suggesting that this problem of Isolation was the Republican's fault. As Republican's mostly encouraged isolationism because they were afraid of rising taxes and increasing presidential power, Dr. Seuss satirized their reluctance for war, but their economic support and loans through big business selling munitions. This political cartoon, as it was produced during shortly after the start of America's entrance in 1941 was created to demonstrate how the Republican Party's wish for isolationism was completely thwarted, and now American had to deal with the consequences of entering World War II. This source is significant because it demonstrates the Republican sentiment of isolationism, and the irony within their disdain for war, and their economic ties within trading munitions and supplies.

NMD-

This political cartoon was authored and published by Dr. Seuss for a left-leaning newspaper organization in New York. Dr Seuss himself was a relative liberal and was extremely critical of those who opposed American intervention in World War II, as well as the Republican Congress of the 1940s. These strong anti-isolationist views are clearly reflected in this cartoon. The cartoon was published in 1940 by Dr Seuss for PM, a liberal newspaper out of New York which was well known for their radical columnists and suspected Communist employees. During the 1940s, Hitler's ransacking of Western Europe, the Balkans, and the constant bombardment of Britain left many liberal Americans eager to enter the war to aid their British allies and to relieve Europe from the repression of National Socialism, as well as to stop Hitler's juggernaut of an empire and military before it could spread to many other parts of the world. However, many conservatives and most Americans saw the war as another trivial pursuit, just as they did World War I, and unless the conflict in Europe posed a very grave threat to the United States, the warning given in Washington's Farewell address must remain to be upheld. The audience for this cartoon would have been the more socialist and Communist leaning readers of America because of the leftist-newspaper in which the cartoon was published. The reason the cartoon was produced was in order to convince the reading audience that the Republicans and the isolationists are incredibly aware of the atrocities which Hitler was committing i the European theater, yet they felt since those people were not Americans that their lives did not matter nearly as much, and that while National Socialist violence against Americans was a crime punishable by unconditional warfare, violence against fellow Europeans was just the natural course of events. The main idea, or the intended message, was that the Republicans and isolationists were nothing but walking contradictions when it came to the defense of all human life around the globe, and that they were more preoccupied with perfecting America rather than allowing very most vital to survive the war with Hitler. This source remains significant because it reflect some of the Republican policies which still exist to this day. Is it really just to use Washington's address and the idea of American superiority in the world in order to justify letting the world burn itself to death whilst you sit on the sidelines? Some situations in which this question can be asked today is in the civil wars of Sudan and other African nations, the Chechen separatist movement, and the Chinese repression of Tibetan independence.

SMR- “One Buck Out of Every 10” by Dr. Suess

Dr. Seuss published the political cartoon, “One Buck Out of Every 10.” Theodor “Seuss” Geisel was a liberal Democrat, who passionately opposed fascism, and encouraged Americans to oppose it as well. He supported the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Geisel supported American entry into the war. The cartoon depicts bucks as representing American dollars, where one in every ten goes to the war effort. The cartoon was created during World War II, when American military needed founding. The time period also represents the end of the Great Depression, and the cartoon illustrates that if ten percent of every American’s income goes to the war effort, there would be no economic problems following the war. The attempt to stop inflation relates to World War I, when famers overproduced food, creating a surplus, which in turn lowered the price of farm produce. Due to farmers producing more and more food and the refusal of Coolidge to help agriculture; the agricultural industry was severely crippled. Previously in history, wars have always come with a sort of advertisement. For example, in World War I, the Creel Committee was created to stir up support for the troops and the American war effort. Geisel’s pro-war attitude helped build support in quashing the Axis powers. In the cartoon, the bucks’ antlers are shaped like dollar signs, creating a play on words: the bucks represent American money. The material was created for Americans during World War II, and since Geisel was pro-war, it would be biased in supporting the war. Fellow Democrats may have shared the same sentiments as Geisel, and therefore may have mustered up support for the American war effort as well. However, anti-war people may have condemned Geisel and his cartoons. People such as Ernest Tubb dedicated songs to the anti-war cause. The cartoon addresses the need for American people to fund the American military for their own social and economic security. Geisel is clearly trying to convey the point of supporting the war for the good of American society and economy. This material is important because it shows how points of view on war can differ. In addition, it shows the importance stabilizing the economy during war time so that events, such as the Great Depression, do not reoccur.

KLM: During WWI, America was directly militarily involved for the tail end of the war, helping to cause the end of the war. This poster is appealing to American manliness, demonstrating that it was their might and power that got them out of WWI and would again help the Allies emerge from WWII, “finish[ing]” the job. Coming out of the Great Depression, Americans were more resilient than previously, demonstrated by Uncle Sam, the personification of America’s, more mature and battle-worn appearance; previous posters had portrayed Uncle Sam as younger in comparison to the personification of European countries. The rugged appearance of Uncle Sam also appealed to the young men who had worked in the CCC during the Great Depression. They had become adjusted to military-like work, becoming healthier and stronger with hard work and good nutrition, and would once again like to demonstrate their manliness, supporting their country like they had supported their family through their work in the CCC. Although the Committee on Public Information had been careful to label the opposition as the “Huns” or the Kaiser and not the Germans, the US government held no qualms against vilifying the Japans. Immigration had been limited between Japan and America for awhile, limiting the number of possibly offended US citizens, and those Japans that already were in the US previous to WWII were sent to Internment Camps. This poster was published by the US Army, who hoped to increase enlistment and support for WWII. Although the Selective Service Act of 1940 expanded the military, the army was still dependent on the home front. Continued production of warfare goods and the rationing of metals and foods were necessary for the upholding of the military. Uncle Sam holds a wrench, demonstrating that soldiers are not the only needed resource during the war; factory workers and the support of civilians, to retain resources for the military, were necessary as well to successfully oppose the “Japs.” Uncle Sam, which represents America as a whole, and the use of the word “we” again demonstrates the Army’s awareness that all Americans are needed for an Allied victory. Also, WWII was a “total war:” the opposition would not restrict their attacks to military; civilians were at risk as well, as demonstrated by the Blitzkrieg against British civilians.

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KLM: With millions of men fighting abroad, US war production depended on the labor of women to maintain supply. The War Manpower Commission balanced the labor needs of agriculture, industry, and war. Like in WWI, women were pushed to be involved in industrial and war production to offset the labor shortage from the war. By 1944, 20 million women were employed, a 57% increase from 1940. The Selective Training and Service Act required all men aged 18 to 65 to register for the draft; thus, although the majority of soldiers were aged 18-25, men of all ages were absent from the domestic labor force. By lacking the economic involvement of men of all ages, the efforts of women of all ages were needed. This poster, published in 1944, appeals to all ages of women, displaying both young and older women. Women were needed for all industries; they absorbed the previous male jobs in addition to the jobs previously relegated to women. The percentage of professions deemed suitable for women out of all professions shifted from 29 to 85%. However, as seen with the abundance of manufacturing labor in the poster relative to “female” jobs, war production was the priority. Only one woman is portrayed in a feminine profession, waitressing. Although women usurped male profession, they lacked previously acquired skills. Not widely employed in manufacturing jobs before, women were sufficiently trained for the machines, necessitating a retooling of the production process; in the poster, the women are performing primarily unskilled labor for the manufacturing jobs. One women in the poster is a nurse; many women volunteered to work as nurses domestically and in the war theaters. Rather than producing products for leisure and domestic use, factories were rolling out military goods, such as the portrayed jeep rather than a Ford family focused car. The writing on the poster demonstrates how much the American military depended on domestic war production: without a continued influx of supplies the American fighting efforts would be greatly hindered. The poster is appealing to the women at home who want “a war to be won” to return their husbands and fathers. Likely, this poster was more widely broadcasted in the Northeast; in the West and South, where farming was more prosperous, agricultural jobs were more promoted to provide food for American and Allied soldiers, especially with the Women’s Land Army of America. The women in the poster are helping to construct and remodel the “Women” display like they are remodeling the female image through a great separation from the “Cult of Domesticity.” Apart from the waitress, all of the women are wearing slacks, a shift from previously more feminine clothing, in order to avoid hinderances to production. Also, less fabric was used in the clothing to save resources from soldiers’ clothing and other war goods. The poster was produced by a WPA artist, Vernon Grant. Previously employed to tout the programs of the New Deal and advice to aid reform, WPA artists now assisted the government in supporting the war effort through recruitment and domestic war effort posters. The poster was funded by the War Manpower Commission and the Office of War Information, the successor of the Creel Committee. The Office of War Information publicized the war, promoting patriotism and recruiting women for labor. Vernon Grant, the illustrator, was well-known for his children’s cartoon and work for the USO, improving morale for children and soldiers. He was active in the war effort, supporting the war abroad through the entertainment of soldiers and promotion of domestic production.

KHW:

KHW: “He Never Knew What Hit Him” by Theodore Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss

Theodore Seuss Geisel (1904-1991), also known as children’s author Dr. Seuss, was a life-long cartoonist who worked as chief editorial cartoonist at the PM Newspaper in New York during WWII. Between 1941 and 1943 he drew over 400 political cartoons for the liberal news publication. Geisel was a liberal democrat as reflected in his cartoons such as “He Never Knew What Hit Him” which opposed isolationist republicans. Published on the day America officially entered WWII, December 8th 1941, Seuss’ cartoon demonstrates how the declaration of war was a “slap in the face” to isolationists. Picturing a bird labeled “isolationism” being blown away by the prospect of war with a look of disapproval, Seuss tried to depict the dissent felt by conservatives. Being a democrat and a staunch opponent of isolationist policies himself, he made the supporter look disgruntled. Celebrated by leftists and condemned by republicans, the decision to go to war was made the morning after the attacks by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. The attack came in two waves, each of which was carefully timed for early morning on December 7th 1941. The attacks resulted in over two thousand casualties and a great deal of America resentment toward Japan. The magnitude of the attack led even die-hard republicans to look past their belief in isolationism and support American involvement in a war. The decision was nearly unanimous with only one person voting against declaring war during the U.S. Congressional meeting held in the afternoon on the 8th. The material was reliable despite the fact that it was published in a leftist publication and illustrated by a liberal, partly because the point being made was a statement and not a debate. The fact of the matter was that America was entering into a war that no one was going to be able to avoid. War was the symbolic end of isolationism as the United States would be an important player on the world stage for decades. This cartoon sends a message to Americans, that they need to abandon any previous beliefs and put all their efforts into supporting the war and not into fighting it. The war was inevitable and the publics time would be better spent if they did everything they could to help win the war rather than fight against their own country.

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