Whither?
7/13/1898
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In this political cartoon, Uncle Sam stands at the intersection of the narrow lane labeled “Monroe Doctrine” and the wider “Imperial Highway” and ponders which road to follow. Uncle Sam’s hesitation suggests the significance of his decision.
Recent events had prompted the United States to re-think long-held ideas related to foreign policy. Congress had declared war with Spain to free Cuba from "inhumane" Spanish rule, but the U.S. expanded the fighting by attacking other Spanish colonies including the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Would victory transfer these colonial possessions to American rule?
In Cuba, U.S. Army troops were completing the capture of Santiago; while in the Philippines, U.S. naval forces had won a decisive battle at Manila Bay. That same summer, President McKinley signed legislation annexing Hawaii. Uncle Sam was indeed venturing onto the imperial highway, but how far the nation would travel down this new path was not yet decided.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
Recent events had prompted the United States to re-think long-held ideas related to foreign policy. Congress had declared war with Spain to free Cuba from "inhumane" Spanish rule, but the U.S. expanded the fighting by attacking other Spanish colonies including the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Would victory transfer these colonial possessions to American rule?
In Cuba, U.S. Army troops were completing the capture of Santiago; while in the Philippines, U.S. naval forces had won a decisive battle at Manila Bay. That same summer, President McKinley signed legislation annexing Hawaii. Uncle Sam was indeed venturing onto the imperial highway, but how far the nation would travel down this new path was not yet decided.
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate .
National Archives Identifier: 6010279
Full Citation: Cartoon F-044; Whither?; 7/13/1898; Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896-1949; Records of the U.S. Senate , Record Group 46 ; National Archives Building, Washington DC, 20408. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/whither-cartoon, December 11, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
