Civil War Cartoons
Over time, political cartoons began to branch out and become more popular especially with newspapers sprouting up all of the country. In the 1850's cartoons for both sides of the Civil War debate began to pop up. Almost daily there would be a new famous cartoon around the country that would inspire some while infuriate others. While Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were often part of the cartoons, often they were more slave based. The cartoons often centered around the topic as a whole rather than the faces behind it.
Below are three cartoons concerning the Civil War. **Feel free to click on the images below to see larger forms.
Below are three cartoons concerning the Civil War. **Feel free to click on the images below to see larger forms.
The cartoons above all show different sides of the Civil War.
The one of the left shows Abraham Lincoln writing a letter on the top of a Union drum. However, the caption states that "All seems well with us," meaning the country. Notice the drum doesn't say "Union" it was "U.S." as Lincoln never considered the south to be a separate country, rather an angry neighbor.
The middle cartoon shows Preston Brooks beating Charles Sumner with a cane during a congressional meeting. The back story of this cartoon is very important. Brooks had just finished giving a speech that Brooks found offensive.
The last cartoon shows Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis in a battle ring. The sacks in which they are fighting with state the amount of each of their treasuries. This cartoon was a hit to the south as this cartoonist makes fun of the lack of funding the southern states had during the war.
The one of the left shows Abraham Lincoln writing a letter on the top of a Union drum. However, the caption states that "All seems well with us," meaning the country. Notice the drum doesn't say "Union" it was "U.S." as Lincoln never considered the south to be a separate country, rather an angry neighbor.
The middle cartoon shows Preston Brooks beating Charles Sumner with a cane during a congressional meeting. The back story of this cartoon is very important. Brooks had just finished giving a speech that Brooks found offensive.
The last cartoon shows Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis in a battle ring. The sacks in which they are fighting with state the amount of each of their treasuries. This cartoon was a hit to the south as this cartoonist makes fun of the lack of funding the southern states had during the war.