Teddy Roosevelt and Bears Political Cartoon

Monday, January 14, 2013, 8:56 AM
What does each "character" in the cartoon represent?
The man in the middle with a rifle represents Teddy Roosevelt. The bears represents trusts. The bear labeled "bad trust" represents the corrupt trusts whereas the bear labeled "good trusts" represents the trusts that are not/are not as corrupt The bear that is not labeled on the right side is considered a hard-working, non-corrupt corporations.
Why is TR dressed that way?
Teddy Roosevelt is dressed as a hunter because he is hunting the bears, or "hunting" trusts. He has a rifle and a knife to show he is hunting by killing the bears, or killing the "bad trusts."
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
The bear that was hunted/killed by Teddy Roosevelt is labeled "Bad Trusts," showing that Teddy Roosevelt was trying to control bad trusts and trying to crash them or destroy them. The bear labeled "good trusts" is not hunted, but rather in the corner, scared of Teddy Roosevelt. This shows that Roosevelt did not hunt/shut down good trusts, but by killing the bad trusts, the good trusts were "scared" and were likely to reform themselves. They were still under Roosevelt's control however, as the "good trusts" bear is on Teddy's leash.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
The cartoon shows that Teddy Roosevelt believed there were "good trusts" and "bad trusts" and that he set out to control the "bad trusts". He cracked down on bad trusts by dissolving them. He had no wish to take down the "good trusts," but the trusts that were destroyed by Teddy Roosevelt became symbols, so that other trusts would reform themselves.
What is up with the bears in the back?
The bear in the back, carrying load on its back, represents a business that is neither a bad or good trust. It represents a hard working, independent businesses that was not hunted by Roosevelt nor in his control.
What does each "character" in the cartoon represent?
The man in the middle with a rifle represents Teddy Roosevelt. The bears represents trusts. The bear labeled "bad trust" represents the corrupt trusts whereas the bear labeled "good trusts" represents the trusts that are not/are not as corrupt The bear that is not labeled on the right side is considered a hard-working, non-corrupt corporations.
Why is TR dressed that way?
Teddy Roosevelt is dressed as a hunter because he is hunting the bears, or "hunting" trusts. He has a rifle and a knife to show he is hunting by killing the bears, or killing the "bad trusts."
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
The bear that was hunted/killed by Teddy Roosevelt is labeled "Bad Trusts," showing that Teddy Roosevelt was trying to control bad trusts and trying to crash them or destroy them. The bear labeled "good trusts" is not hunted, but rather in the corner, scared of Teddy Roosevelt. This shows that Roosevelt did not hunt/shut down good trusts, but by killing the bad trusts, the good trusts were "scared" and were likely to reform themselves. They were still under Roosevelt's control however, as the "good trusts" bear is on Teddy's leash.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
The cartoon shows that Teddy Roosevelt believed there were "good trusts" and "bad trusts" and that he set out to control the "bad trusts". He cracked down on bad trusts by dissolving them. He had no wish to take down the "good trusts," but the trusts that were destroyed by Teddy Roosevelt became symbols, so that other trusts would reform themselves.
What is up with the bears in the back?
The bear in the back, carrying load on its back, represents a business that is neither a bad or good trust. It represents a hard working, independent businesses that was not hunted by Roosevelt nor in his control.