The political cartoon to the left was published in 1864 during the presidential campaign. It depicts three men, two of whom are fighting over a flag. To the left is Abraham Lincoln who says “No peace without Abolition!” To the right is Jefferson Davis quoted saying “No peace without Separation!” Between them stands General George McClellan who is saying “The Union must be preserved at all hazards!” The cartoon is titled The True Issue or “That’s Whats the Matter”
The political cartoon shows the struggle between the leadership in the United States during the civil war. The 1864 election occurred toward the end of the war. It was ultimately a deciding factor in the outcome of the war. The map in the cartoon is that of America in 1864. It shows a tear down the middle from the two men pulling at it.
To the left of the map are the Northern states whom were still apart of the union. These states were still under rule of the American government. At the time President Lincoln was in office. Lincoln had strong feelings about the abolishment of slavery.
To the right of the map were the southern states that by this time had created their own Confederate States of America lead by President Jefferson Davis. The south was predominantly farmers who utilized slaves for larger profit margins. The idea of abolishing slavery could potentially destroy the southern economy. The southern states seceded from the union to preserve their right to slavery and ultimately their state rights.
In the middle of the two men holding them in each fist preventing them from tearing apart the entire map is General McClellan. McClellan ran against Lincoln in the 1864 election. He believed that the nation should stay a together under all costs. McClellan was a pro-war democrat that sought restoration of the nation.
The cartoon tries to convey that Lincoln and Davis were more worried about their needs than the need of the nation. It depicts Lincoln as though he would tear apart the country to preserve the idea of abolition and the same is true for Davis and the idea of Separation. The cartoon uses McClellan as the strength that holds the two men and the two halves of the map (country) together. It’s evident that this was a pro-democrat cartoon by the use of McClellan as the right of two wrongs.
“The True Issue or That’s Whats the Matter,” http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/IndexDisplayCartoonMedium.asp?SourceIndex=People&IndexText=McClellan%2C+George+B%2E&UniqueID=40&Year=1864 (accessed February 14, 2012).
"Boston Public Library Exhibit" http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/05/by_peter_schwor_8.html (accessed February 14, 2012).
"The Election of 1864" http://www.ushistory.org/us/34e.asp (accessed February 14, 2012).
“The True Issue or That’s Whats the Matter,” http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/IndexDisplayCartoonMedium.asp?SourceIndex=People&IndexText=McClellan%2C+George+B%2E&UniqueID=40&Year=1864 (accessed February 14, 2012).
"Boston Public Library Exhibit" http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/05/by_peter_schwor_8.html (accessed February 14, 2012).
"The Election of 1864" http://www.ushistory.org/us/34e.asp (accessed February 14, 2012).
Mr. Godwin,
ReplyDeleteWell constructed argument. I agree with most of your points, but I disagree with you on a few fronts. I believe that McClellan was at heart a pro war democrat, but would argue that he ran as a peace democrat or copperhead as they were commonly labeled. Another popular label was butternut I believe. McClellan ran as a peace democrat I believe in order to secure a constituency. War democrats had sort of merged with Lincoln's party. I also disagree with you when you say the south was predominately made up of farmers. That is a label that doesn't accurately portray the magnitude of the event. Most southerners were poor farmers as you say, but I would wager that less than ten percent owned slaves. It was the powerful elite that incited war and the uneducated masses that were duped into carrying it out. Wonderful post. Check out mine. I welcome your responses here or on my blog. Great job!
Hey thanks for responding to my blog earlier! Your argument was well done and I found it coincided with my own. I liked how you said, "The cartoon tries to convey that Lincoln and Davis were more worried about their needs than the need of the nation." That is true in this cartoon - Lincoln and Davis are both portrayed as radicals that are more caught up with promoting their ideologies instead of preserving the Union. McClellan attempts to convey the message that he is the defender of the Union and wants to move toward peace despite the differences along sectional lines. This cartoon defends that McClellan can be aggressive and take an active stance while still promoting peace.
ReplyDeleteIf you compare some of the other cartoons portraying McClellan he is often shown as weak and almost apologetic to the South.
Here is a couple examples:
http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/IndexDisplayCartoonMedium.asp?SourceIndex=People&IndexText=McClellan%2C+George+B%2E&UniqueID=11&Year=1864
http://loc.harpweek.com/LCPoliticalCartoons/IndexDisplayCartoonMedium.asp?SourceIndex=People&IndexText=McClellan%2C+George+B%2E&UniqueID=42&Year=1864
Great post!! You emphasized your argument by sharing a great deal of the matter that was occurring in this era of history. I don't, however, agree that the South was pretty much made up of farmers at this time. There were many classes of people and usually only the rich plantation owners had slaves. I agree with Stephen, above, that it was a war waged by the rich elite to save their property and way of life and the rest of the south got drug in with them. That being said all mind sets were on somewhat of the same path in the South at the time. I believe that you made an excellent analysis of this cartoon and that it definitely depicted that Lincoln and Davis were too concerned about what they wanted out of the disagreement that they never stopped to seek out a way to peacefully come to terms over the reunification of the nation. McClellan did try and push that he wanted to keep the Union together at all costs, but I severely doubt this was the case at the time. However, the cartoon accurately portrays McClellan as trying to bring peace to the two men and settle the argument. You are right that it is definitely a pro-democratic cartoon. Great post!!
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