The Immigrant Case

My political cartoon was illustrated by Frank Beard, on 25 April, 1896. This political cartoon was published in The Ram's Horn, magazine. Frank Beard (1842-1905) was the principle illustrator of The Ram's Horn magazine. Frank Beard was a commonly known American illustrator who lived in the late nineteenth century. Frank Beard was very religious, and was also deaf. Based on a few of his other political cartoons Frank Beard seems to be against the government. Yet, The Ram's Horn visually expressed a longing for immigration constraint, a political movement that was influential during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, and which was victorious in 1921 and 1924.

My political cartoon is called, The Immigrant: The Stranger at Our Gate, it takes place in the United States. It is portraying Uncle Sam who is standing outside the Capitol Building's gate. It shows an immigrant who wants to enter the U.S., which in not uncommon in the 19th century.

The tone and mood of this political cartoon is indifference to the foreign immigrants. Uncle Sam and the immigrant are personified. There are labels on the illustration but they might be hard to read. Like for example: Poverty, Disease, and Gabbath Desecration, can be seen on the personal items of the immigrant. There are signs saying Walk In, Welcome, and Entrance Free. Uncle Sam is looking down upon the man, with a look of disgust.

In the political cartoon, the statue of an eagle on top of the pillar can be seen. An exaggeration drawn in the cartoon would be the state the immigrant is in. There are many similar political cartoons that show and represent the same thing. Many American resent the immigrants, which led to many political cartoons against them.

I believe that this political cartoon is successfully showing the situation where the government is not what it seems to be. And does not do what they say they do. This cartoon explains the "other side" of the American government and American citizens in general. The political cartoon shows how they look down upon immigrants. Frank Beard's intention of this cartoon is to show the people what lies under the under the governments disguise.