This document presents and analyzes several political cartoons from Canadian and American newspapers depicting relations between Canada and the United States. It discusses how cartoonists frequently use visual analogies or comparisons to other situations to effectively make their points about controversial topics. Students are asked to study cartoons about the Alaska boundary dispute and identify the analogies used, such as card games, tug-of-war, etc. They are also prompted to analyze depictions of characters like Uncle Sam and how cartoonists portray and manipulate viewers.

1. Analogy: The Overlooked Device
in Effective Political Cartoons
© Charles Hou, NCSS Seattle 2012

2. A political cartoon is in effect a visual
editorial. Cartoonists deal critically with often
controversial topics, and use various devices to
capture the viewer’s attention and convey a
message more rapidly and more effectively
than words alone can do.

3. Political cartoons on Canadian – American
relations, found in Canadian and American
newspapers, frequently use visual analogies
or comparisons to other situations as the
“hook” to effectively make a point.

4. The cartoons which follow provide students
with an opportunity to compare American and
Canadian cartoons on a number of topics, and
to exercise their critical thinking skills in
analyzing the way cartoonists use various
analogies to depict situations and sway the
viewer’s opinion on the topic under
consideration.

5. ANNEXATION vs INDEPENDENCE
UNCLE SAM KICKED OUT
YOUNG CANADA: ”We don’t want you here.
JOHN BULL: “That’s right, my son. No matter what comes,
an empty house is better than such a tenant as that!”
23Sept1869,Grinchuckle,Toronto

6. ANNEXATION vs INDEPENDENCE
JOHN BULL: “If she accepts the ring, the first thing I know she’ll be accepting him.”
July1901,St.PaulPioneerPress

7. RECIPROCITY
“COME ON SONNY, I’LL CATCH YOU”
12Sept1911,TheVancouverProvince

8. RECIPROCITY
THE CUT DIRECT
Sept1911,TheMontrealHerald

9. AMERICAN NEUTRALITY 1916
ANOTHER CASE OF WIPING HANDS
ON THE AMERICAN FLAG
WOE IS ME
Yesterday I was too proud to fight.
Today I am too fat to fight.
1916[?],NewYorkHerald
12Dec1916,TheTorontoDailyNews

10. MULTICULTURALISM
“NOW THEN, ALL TOGETHER”
Dec1903,ToCanada,MinisteroftheInterior,Ottawa

11. MELTING POT
OUT WITH IT – ROOT AND BRANCH
1917,EveningMail,NewYork

12. LEAGUE OF NATIONS
AS SENATOR REED PICTURES THE LEAGUE
1920,St.LouisGlobeDemocrat

13. LEAGUE OF NATIONS
SHALL THESE BE THE ARBITERS OF CANADA’S FUTURE?
18Feb.1920,TheHalifaxHerald
18Feb1920,TheHalifaxHerald

14. PROHIBITION
THE TIES THAT BIND
17April1908,ThePioneer,Oshawa

15. Nov1923,TheGeorgeMatthewsAdamsService,NewYork
THAT LEAKY APARTMENT ABOVE
PROHIBITION

16. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE

17. • Have your students read an article on the
Alaska Boundary Dispute between Canada
and the United States, then study the
cartoons which follow and determine the
analogy used in each one (a card game, a
game of chance, a tug of war etc.).

18. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
SAYS JONATHAN TO JOHN: IT TAKES TWO TO MAKE A QUARREL
[Canadian prime minister Laurier and opposition leader Tupper look on.]
30Aug1899,NewYorkEveningJournal

19. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
WHAT HE THINKS
22Oct1902,TorontoWorld

20. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION
All ready for the Shell Game.
28February1903,TheMontrealDailyStar

21. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
THE BIG QUESTION OF THE DAY
The “tug of war” is under way between Canada and the United States.
One wonders if John Bull is there in order to push or pull.
11July1903,LeCanard,Montreal

22. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
A LITTLE GAME OF “CONCESSION” POKER NOW GOING
ON IN LONDON – FIND THE WINNER.
9Sept1903,MontrealDailyStar

23. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
THE GRAB-ALL
UNCLE SAM: See here young feller. Don’t get excited, I need the money,
and I aint afraid of yer parents!
Sept.1903,LeCanada,Montreal

24. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
MERELYA SUGGESTION
UNITED STATES: “There, little girl, don’t cry; why bother about any
boundary line at all?”
20Oct.1903,MinneapolisJournal

25. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
UNCLE SAM SEEMS TO HAVE MADE HIS DISTANCE
19Oct1903,ChicagoJournal

26. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
“WHERE WILL THE NEXT BITE BE?”
26Oct.1903,TheTorontoDailyStar

27. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
WHAT JACK CANUCK ALWAYS GETS IN THE END
JOHN BULL: Don’t lose your temper, Jack; I gave your Uncle Sam my consent.
24Oct1903,SaturdayNight,Toronto

28. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
CANADA: “Great blizzards! And so I’ve got to make merry with the cork!”
20Oct.1903,TheDailyNews,Chicago

29. THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
JOHN BULL: “Yes, ‘e’s making a lot of noise, Sam, but ‘e’ll get over it.”
Dec1903,NorthAmerican,Philadelphia

30. • Which cartoons are Canadian? American? How can you tell?
• How has the cartoonist depicted the Alaska Boundary Dispute (as a card
game, a tug-of-war, etc.)? Suggest an original analogy on the same topic.
• Comment on how the cartoonist has portrayed Uncle Sam, John Bull,
Johnny Canuck, Miss Canada and Jean-Baptiste.
• Comment on the relationship between John Bull and Uncle Sam, John Bull
and Johnny Canuck, Uncle Sam and Johnny Canuck.
• What feelings do you get from viewing a cartoon? How has the cartoonist
manipulated you?
• If you had to pick one cartoon to use in a book, which one would you
select? Why?
• Divide the class into groups of 4 to 6 students and ask them to discuss the
way Canadian and American cartoonists portrayed the Alaska Boundary
Dispute. Follow this exercise with a class discussion.
THE ALASKA BOUNDARY DISPUTE
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS