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Position:Home>History> Political Cartoon about World War 1 help please!!?Question: Political Cartoon about World War 1 help please!!!? http://faculty!.umf!.maine!.edu/~walters/we!.!.!.
What are the symbols in this cartoon, and what do they mean!? I see the year got cut off, should it be 1914!? Is the word Promise the most significant word, and what emotions are being portrayed!? Thanks so much!Www@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It was pointing out when Germany was caught attempting to get Mexico to ally itself with the Germans and Austrians during World War I!. As part of the deal, Germany promised Mexico all of its old lands that had become part of the United States!. Mexico declined the offer, and let the US know what Germany had asked of the Mexican government!. The cartoon itself shows the secrecy that Germany tried to use, by speaking from over the shoulder of Mexico and whispering in Mexico's ear rather than face-to-face in direct talks everyone would know about!. The "Some Promise!" at the bottom of the cartoon was to get across the desperation of the attempt to gain Mexico's alliance; trying to get across the magnitude of what Germany was offering!. And probably to a point trying to get across that Germany was incapable of defeating the United States even with Mexican help, and would not be able to deliver on the promise!. Mexico was not strong enough, and would be a distraction but not be able to invade America!. And Germany was still stuck with France and Britain to help Mexico in that fight!. It looks like the year was cut off by accident; it looks like the whole picture got cut off at the right side during the copying into the computer, not on purpose because of the drawing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com That cartoon would be referring to the Zimmerman Telegram which was sent on 16 January 1917!. 1!. The symbols: The man on the left is wearing a WW1 German helmet and cape/greatcoat, so he's sure to be a German!. The man on the right is wearing a sombrero and poncho, so he's sure to be Mexican!. 2!. I think you have the year wrong, it would be more like 1917!. 3!. I think the "Some Promise!" at the bottom is inferring that the Germans would not have kept their promise!. 4!. The German is smirking behind his hand as if he is in the process of tricking the Mexican into something!. The Mexican is looking pensive and not quite sure of what he should do!. It seems to me he feels something is not quite right!. The text of the note in the cartoon is simplified but is the sentiment expressed in the telegram!. "Join with Germany and get a bit of the United States!." The Zimmerman Telegram: Bringing America Closer to War!. On March 1, 1917 newspapers published a telegram from German foreign minister Arthur Zimmermann to the Mexican government, proposing a German-Mexican alliance against the United States!. (For attacking the United States, the Mexicans would recoup lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona!.) Intercepted by the British, the telegram was published widely in American newspapers and inflamed popular opinion against the Germans!. In fact the cartoon is reproduced on this website: http://rutlandhs!.k12!.vt!.us/jpeterso/uboa!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com It looks like Germany is trying to recruit Mexico to fight with the USA on a different front!. Germany is making a promise to give some of the USA to Mexico (or back to Mexico like California or Texas), but since Germany was looking for world domination, it's an empty promise!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |
