It was about time he woke up
1911
Uncle Sam looks like he just rolled out of a century-long nap, clutching a rusty rifle labeled 'Monopoly Theory,' only to find a raucous party happening next door at the 'Inn of South American Trade.' While the US slept, a portly figure representing Britain (John Bull) and other international rivals—note the German and Japanese flags on the ships—have been happily swooping in to capture the lucrative market with their 'Samples' and trade reviews. This 1911 cartoon by Gordon Ross mocks American isolationism; the globe in the corner hilariously highlights the American delusion that the Western Hemisphere was their exclusive backyard, while the reality shows a bustling international bazaar stealing their lunch.
- Technique
- chromolithograph