Extra Credit: Quarter 2

The presidential election of 1896 was one of the most exciting and complicated in U.S. history. It touched on many different themes that were important to life in the United States at the time, such as:

• Free Coinage of Silver: The most controversial issue in the election concerned the use of gold and/or silver to back the nation's currency. The nation was divided between those who believed in the unlimited coinage of silver (known as free silver) and those who supported the exclusive use of gold.

• Women's Issues: Even though women could only vote for national offices in three states, they were politically active throughout the election and called attention to issues that affected their lives.

• Farmers' Issues: Farmers argued for a looser money supply that would benefit debtors; lower tariffs that would benefit working-class consumers; an income tax on the wealthy; and a fight against monopolies and trusts.

• Prohibition: Some people believed that the consumption of alcoholic beverages threatened social, commercial, industrial, and political aspects of American life and were therefore opposed to its manufacture and sale.

• Tariffs: Tariffs had been a key political issue throughout the 19th century, with industrial and Northeastern interests generally in favor, farmers usually opposed.

• Trusts and Monopolies: Working-class people, many of whom faced either hazardous working conditions and low wages or had to pay prices imposed by monopolies, were opposed to the size and power of big business in America.

Think about the different views surrounding these divisive issues and how each might be portrayed in a political cartoon.

Then click on the following political cartoons about the 1896 election.

http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/0725judge.html

http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/1114cn.html

http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/0911sppp.html

http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/0921slpd.html

http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/0912ramshorn.html

http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/0914rmn.html

For each cartoon, answer the following questions:

1. Which major theme of the 1896 presidential election does this cartoon portray?
2. What is the main idea of this political cartoon?