The CIVIL WAR as Seen in POLITICAL CARTOONS

No event in the history of the United States has resonated more in the hearts and minds of the American people than the nation's Civil War.

As with all political events in history, the war and its leaders were the object of published illustrations which were either humorous, satirical, or critical…

Three of the most prominent sources for published political cartoons were: Harper’s Weekly magazine, Currier and Ives artist studio, and a British newspaper…

…called Punch. Many of the American and British cartoons expressed a skepticism about the war’s aims and policies…

Let’s examine some of the more famous cartoons… Look for symbolism, the artist’s message, and specific historic events featured in each cartoon !

The Election of 1860

British sentiment, like America, was also divided by the Civil War. Ideologically, it sided with the abolitionist North, but it had strong commercial ties to the South. England had to restrain itself to remain neutral,

A central figure in that conflict was Abraham Lincoln. His rise to the presidency and term in office, his insistence on maintaining the union at all costs, and his remarkable physical appearance drew much ink from the pens of caricaturists.

The CIVIL WAR as Seen in POLITICAL CARTOONS