Introduction to Historical Cartoons

Though the issue of immigration is being fiercely debated across the United States, fear and hatred of non-hostile immigrants is nothing new. Documents and political cartoons keep a record of racism that has been going on since at least the 1800s if not longer. Though Mexican immigrants seem to be the target of today's focus, in the past the Chinese, Irish and other Europeans have been attacked for coming to the United States. Many of the insults and derogatory comments made currently were used against foreigners from the past.

Despite having arguably different issues and occurring in different times, the complaints of early Americans are relatively the same. During times of economic difficulty, U.S. citizens blame immigrant workers for "stealing" jobs. We constantly blame others for our problems, discriminate against people who look different, and complain about their culture. This is an interesting trend, considering that all citizens of the U.S. were at one time or another immigrants to this land. The Declaration of Independence states that we are all entitled to "unalienable rights," and I find it ironic that undocumented immigrants are often referred to as "aliens."

The issue remains a popular topic of discussion, but the U.S. has yet to find a solution to the challenge.

More Historical Cartoons

Prejudice against Chinese immigrants:

Injustice toward Chinese immigrants:

Difficulty of displaced persons immigrating to the United States:

The Day We Celebrate

fIMMIGRATION & UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

• Cartoon Analysis Worksheet: Attach to cartoon.

Team Member Name: Mariah Noble

Publication Harper’s Weekly Date: 1867

Cartoonist: Thomas Nast U.S./International (circle)

Title of the cartoon: The Day We Celebrate___Cartoon#___

What action is taking place in the cartoon?

Irish immigrants are beating policemen/ American citizens.

Tone of the cartoon:

1) positive or negative framing of undocumented immigrants (circle answer)

2) positive or negative framing of immigration policies (Circle answer)

What “reality” is constructed/framed about immigration/immigrants?

The reality in this cartoon portrays Irish immigrants as uncivilized, irresponsible people with little to no respect for authority figures. The scene is based off of actual riots that occurred in New York between the Irish and the government. History shows that there were multiple riots throughout the mid to late 1800s. The cartoonish illustrated the “wild Irish” as monkey-like people who were chaotic and unintelligent. Every person in the cartoon is holding a weapon with which they can club others in the scene, but the policemen and their weapons are trampled and defeated for the most part. The caption tells what is going on in the picture and when. The two words in either corner indicate that the Irish are thirsty for two things: blood and rum. This illustrates them as violent drunks. The small words, “Brutal attack on the police… Irish riot,” cause the viewer to further sympathize with the seemingly innocent police. The font used for “The day we celebrate” makes the Irish look unintelligent again. This cartoon is addressing the issue of allowing wild Irish immigrants to live in America. It’s message poses the question of how long the injustices of the violent Irish will be tolerated by U.S. citizens. The police seem powerless, while the Irish seem out of control. It frames the law-abiding police as victims to the fiery, rash Irish drunkards who are destroying the American nation.

The Chinese Question

IMMIGRATION & UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

• Cartoon Analysis Worksheet: Attach to cartoon.

Team Member Name: Mariah Noble

Publication Harper’s Weekly Date: 1871

Cartoonist: Thomas Nast U.S./International (circle)

Title of the cartoon: The Chinese Question Cartoon#___

What action is taking place in the cartoon?

A Chinese man is cowering on the ground with a woman (who we can interpret as Lady Liberty) between him and an angry mob of white Americans. A sign behind him refers to Chinese immigrants in derogatory terms.

Tone of the cartoon:

1) positive or negative framing of undocumented immigrants (circle answer)

2) positive or negative framing of immigration policies (Circle answer)

What “reality” is constructed/framed about immigration/immigrants?

This is a cartoon that sympathizes with Chinese immigrants. It illustrates the anger and hate that Americans generated, despite having laws and foundations that protect and reach out to those immigrants seeking better lives. The Chinese man is clearly distraught and humiliated by the allegations on the sign behind him. Lady Liberty is trying to comfort him while giving the mob a disapproving look. The members of the mob are ugly and angry. They carry weapons to harm the Chinese refugee, and there is an empty rope on a dead tree in the background, giving the viewer the impression that the mob will hang the Chinese man. The words on the sign describe the Chinese as “barbarians, heathens, the lowest and vilest.” The issue being addressed is prejudice and discrimination against Chinese immigrants. The Chinaman is stereotypically dressed, and the Americans are stereotypically rash in their words and actions. Americans blamed immigrants for problems, just as they do today. This cartoon uses irony to mock how Americans were accusing Chinese workers of being vile, barbaric heathens when in reality the American people’s actions of hostility toward the Chinese were far more wild and rash. The cartoon is framed so that people will see the humane side of the Chinese immigrant’s struggle for respect and peace in the United States.

The Only Way to Handle It

IMMIGRATION & UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

• Cartoon Analysis Worksheet: Attach to cartoon.

Team Member Name: Mariah Noble

Publication Unavailable (now located in the Library of Congress) Date: 1921 Cartoonist: Unavailable U.S./International (circle)

Title of the cartoon:_The Only Way to Handle It___Cartoon#___

What action is taking place in the cartoon?

Uncle Sam is limiting the dimension of a funnel transferring people from Europe to the United States

Tone of the cartoon:

1) positive or negative framing of undocumented immigrants (circle answer)

2) positive or negative framing of immigration policies (Circle answer)

What “reality” is constructed/framed about immigration/immigrants?

This editorial cartoon expresses the need for regulation of allowing European immigrants into the United States and illustrates the results of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, which limited the number of new immigrants to 3 percent of the number of immigrants existing already in the United States. There is a giant funnel that starts in Europe and deposits immigrants into the United States. Uncle Sam is constricting the smaller end of the funnel by putting a gate of 3 percent into it. In his other hand, he holds papers which can be interpreted as the new law. The image gives the impression that tons of Europeans want to move to the United States, but allowing them all in would overwhelm Americans. The caption, “The only way to handle it,” frames the new law limiting immigration as the only logical solution to the problem of overpopulation by Europeans.

The Great Fear of the Period

IMMIGRATION & UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS

• Cartoon Analysis Worksheet: Attach to cartoon.

Team Member Name: Mariah Noble

Publication White and Bauer (San Francisco Date:1860s

Cartoonist: Unavailable U.S./International (circle)

Title of the cartoon:_The Great Fear of the Period Cartoon#___

What action is taking place in the cartoon?

Uncle Sam is being swallowed by a Chinese and an Irish immigrant.

Tone of the cartoon:

1) positive or negative framing of undocumented immigrants (circle answer)

2) positive or negative framing of immigration policies (Circle answer)

What “reality” is constructed/framed about immigration/immigrants?

The reality constructed is that by allowing immigrants into the United States, they will destroy American traditions and culture. The cartoonist specifically targets the Chinese and Irish immigrants because of the vast amount of people coming to the U.S. to construct railroads, as can be seen in the background of the cartoon. The caption states that Americans are fearful of the new immigrants taking over and destroying their heritage. The caption at the bottom, “The problem solved,” refers to immigrants swallowing and destroying each other’s culture. It is a sarcastic caption that is actually showing what a problem this result would be. The Chinese man is stereotypically illustrated with a queue hairstyle and a peasant’s outfit, and as he eats, he progressively gets fatter. The same is true of the Irish man. As they swallow the freedoms and history represented by Uncle Sam, they seem selfish and gluttonous. The Chinaman is the only person left standing, which makes him seem like the worse of the two enemies. His traditional peasant hat is on the ground in the background and he ends up wearing the Irish hat, hinting that part of the Irish culture will be preserved, but there is no evidence left of Uncle Sam.