This document contains summaries and images from political cartoons from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that commented on the debate around American imperialism. The cartoons address topics such as the US intervention and acquisition of territories like the Philippines, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. They variously portray the US taking on the "civilizing" role of oppressive colonial powers in these regions or question the morality and consequences of an expanding American empire overseas.

1. Political Cartoons
The Debate Over Imperialism

2. Detroit News, January 3, 2008
• “Mileage Is Pretty
Good Till I Run Out
Of One-Dollar Bills.”

3. Source ?, 1914
"Before the United States
intervened in behalf of these
oppressed peoples.
Philippines-Spanish
oppression. Hawaii-Industrial
slavery. Porto Rico, Cuba-
Spanish yoke. Isthmus of
Panama-Quinine. After the
United States had rescued
them from their oppression.
Philippines-Philippine
Assembly, Education,
Busine[ss] Prosperity. Hawaii-
Prosperity. Porto Rico-
Prosperity. Cuba-Self gov't,
prosperity. Panama Canal
Zone-Health."

4. New York World, reprinted Literary
Digest, November 26, 1898.
• “Civilization Begins At
Home”

5. Chicago Chronicle, reprinted
Literary Digest, January 27, 1900.
• “The Forbidden Book”
• “True History of the
War in the
Philippines.”

6. New York Evening Journal, May 5, 1902,
reprinted Literary Digest, May 17, 1902.
• “Kill Every One Over
Ten…Criminals
because they were
born ten years before
we took the
Philippines.”

7. The Public, 5 (January 31, 1901).
• “Treason” At the
White House”
• Lincoln “A people who
denies freedom to
others cannot long
itself be free.”
• …”Some traitor
miscreant has been
defacing our imperial
wall!!”

8. Puck, December 1, 1897
• “Another shotgun
wedding with neither
party willing.”

9. Puck. January 13, 1897
• “Patient Waiters are No
Losers”
• Caption: Uncle Sam - "I
ain't in a hurry-it'll drop
into my basket when it
gets ripe."
• Description: Uncle Sam is
standing under a fruit
tree, fruits hanging from
tree are labeled "Hawaii,
Canada, Cuba, Florida,
Texas, California, and
Louisiana".

10. Puck, 1898
• “School Begins”
• Caption: Uncle Sam (to his new
class on civilization) - "Now,
children, you've got to learn
these lessons whether you want
to or not! But just take a look at
the class ahead of you, and
remember that in a little while,
you will be as glad to be here as
they are!"
• Description: In the back of the
classroom students
representing California, Texas,
Arizona, New Mexico and
Alaska are quietly reading. In
the front row are boys
representing the Philippines,
Porto (sic) Rico, Cuba, and
Hawai'i looking bored and out of
place.