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Kristin & Courtney's wonderful wiki page...

John D. Rockefeller ~

Caption: "I'm in control now!"

This cartoon explains how Rockefeller made sure he was in control of everything and everyone. The tentacles represent his hands which controlled every business that he either bought out or owned. The people who worked for the businesses he bought tried to get on Rockefeller's good side so that he would cut down the cost of his oil. This also shows how much "power" he had. In addition, the "hands" of Rockefeller revolved around his oil company, but branched out so that everyone and every business was in the palm of his "hands."

Cornelius Vanderbilt ~



This cartoon makes fun of how Vanderbilt was so determined to gain ownership of the Erie Railroad. However, J. Gould owned the Erie Railroad and was not willing to give it to Vanderbilt. This did not settle very well for Vanderbilt who was used to getting everything he wanted. In fact, Vanderbilt lost over 7 million dollars trying to gain control of the railroad. This became known as the Erie War. At the end of the war, Gould still owned the railroad, but repaid Vanderbilt the 7 million he had invested in the Erie Railroad.

Caption: "Now then Jim_no jockeying!" "Let 'em rip commodore_but don't stop to water or you'll be beat."

Boss Tweed ~



Tweed was part of a fraternal organization and used his political rank to increase his power. He grafted millions from the treasury, meaning he bribed people or companies for his own personal gain. Everything he did was to benefit himself. This cartoon shows how his mind revolved around money; his thoughts, his career, and his life. The bag over his head represents engulfed he was with getting more money.

Thomas Nast ~

Caption: "Looks like the tables have turned Nast." Nast was known for his editorial career as a cartoonist. He made fun of widely-known people (people that are recognized by the public). He was involved in many of the nation's great conflicts such as the abolition of slavery and the KKK. People described him as nasty due to the fact that the voice in his cartoons were derogatory. However, in this cartoon, it appears that the "tables have turned" and now someone is making fun of him and his cartoons. *In fact, the cartoon above, Boss Tweed, is one of the many works by Nast.

J. P. Morgan ~

Caption: "Morgan towers over federal government."

Morgan was a financier who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation. With all of his ties to money, he soon formed the first billion dollar corporation. People felt that his rank in society made him obtain "more power" than the federal government. This cartoon illustrates exactly this point by showing how Morgan towered over the "little" government. This also shows how he seemed to have more control then the government. Andrew Carnegie ~

Caption: "Forty-Millionaire Carnegie in his Great Double Role. As the tight-fisted employer he reduces wages that he may play philanthropist and give away libraries, etc."

Carnegie was a businessman as well as a philanthropist. He began as a telegrapher. but later built many companies. He then became the second richest man in the world. Carnegie gave most of his money to fund libraries, schools, and universities. He even sold his steel company to J.P. Morgan. This cartoon shows exactly how Carnegie played two roles in life; a businessman (owned many companies such as his steel company) and a philanthropist (gave his money toward greater public benefits).

Currrent political cartoon 1 ~



Caption: "Happy Earth Day."

Global Warming is rapidly affecting the nation. This cartoon illustrates how Earth Day symbolizes the earth's birthday. However, the earth looks angered and beaten up. This is from the effects of global warming. Due to the non-care for the enviroment the earth has taken a brutal beating.

Current political cartoon 2 ~

Caption: "Obama, the bipolar president."

Barack Obama is the president of the United States for the next four years. A majority of people voted him into office, however some did not. This cartoon shows how Obama would go into a speech one day and say one thing, but then by the next speech it would be a totally different story. For instance, the first speech, I like puppies, and the next speech is, I like rabbits. This cartoon calls him bipolar because he says one thing one day and then another thing the next day. He can't make up his mind.

Current political cartoon 3 ~



The U.S. has made some big changes in Iraq. We went in and other countries offered their assistance. This cartoon shows how when times started getting hard, countries started to back out. As the cartoon shows, the U.K. pulled out and left the mess up to the U.S.

