TR and the Bears
What does each "character" in the cartoon represent?
Roosevelt represents the United States Government as a whole. He believed that there were two types of trusts: the 'good trust' which had to be properly 'restrained' by the government, and 'bad trusts', which needed to be destroyed so that the public could prosper. Each
bear symbolises a trust- the cowering 'good trusts' bear is leashed by Roosevelt (and the government) and the 'bad trusts' bear is dead underneath Roosevelt's foot, depicting the destruction of 'bad trusts'.
Why is TR dressed that way?
Theodore Roosevelt was known as the 'cowboy president'; indeed, he owned a ranch known as Elk Horn. The uniform shown in the cartoon demonstrates his colonel status, as distinguished by the wide-brimmed hat and bandana. The cartoonist depicted him in this colonel uniform because Roosevelt was famous for his battles at Las Guasimas and San Juan Hill.
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
Although 'trusts' were labelled as one entity, Roosevelt's idea of 'trusts' fell into two different categories. 'Bad trusts' did not serve the public good and existed only for money and power, whereas 'good trusts' acted with public conscience. 'Bad trusts' had to be destroyed, as represented by the dead bear underneath Roosevelt's boot and the gun in his hand. 'Good trusts', on the other hand, were acceptable if properly 'restrained' by the government.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
The cartoonist meant to say that Roosevelt was unfairly destroying trusts and neither the good trust nor the bad trusts benefited from this. The 'bad trusts' bear is dead, symbolising Roosevelt's wish for the destruction of all corrupt trusts. The 'good trusts' bear, though still alive, is scared and wondering if Roosevelt would do the same to him.
What is up with the bears in the back?
The small bear in the back could represent the trust owners, who hoped to get away with the money earned by the trust and 'destroyed' the competition (such as John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan).
Roosevelt represents the United States Government as a whole. He believed that there were two types of trusts: the 'good trust' which had to be properly 'restrained' by the government, and 'bad trusts', which needed to be destroyed so that the public could prosper. Each
bear symbolises a trust- the cowering 'good trusts' bear is leashed by Roosevelt (and the government) and the 'bad trusts' bear is dead underneath Roosevelt's foot, depicting the destruction of 'bad trusts'.
Why is TR dressed that way?
Theodore Roosevelt was known as the 'cowboy president'; indeed, he owned a ranch known as Elk Horn. The uniform shown in the cartoon demonstrates his colonel status, as distinguished by the wide-brimmed hat and bandana. The cartoonist depicted him in this colonel uniform because Roosevelt was famous for his battles at Las Guasimas and San Juan Hill.
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
Although 'trusts' were labelled as one entity, Roosevelt's idea of 'trusts' fell into two different categories. 'Bad trusts' did not serve the public good and existed only for money and power, whereas 'good trusts' acted with public conscience. 'Bad trusts' had to be destroyed, as represented by the dead bear underneath Roosevelt's boot and the gun in his hand. 'Good trusts', on the other hand, were acceptable if properly 'restrained' by the government.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
The cartoonist meant to say that Roosevelt was unfairly destroying trusts and neither the good trust nor the bad trusts benefited from this. The 'bad trusts' bear is dead, symbolising Roosevelt's wish for the destruction of all corrupt trusts. The 'good trusts' bear, though still alive, is scared and wondering if Roosevelt would do the same to him.
What is up with the bears in the back?
The small bear in the back could represent the trust owners, who hoped to get away with the money earned by the trust and 'destroyed' the competition (such as John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan).