Teddy Roosevelt and the Bears
![Picture](/uploads/1/6/5/4/16545920/3176434.jpg?375)
What does each "character" in the cartoon represent?
The man with the gun is Theodore Roosevelt. The Bear that says Bad Trusts that is under Teddy's boot represents bad trusts that were corrupt. The bear that says Good Trusts that is on a leash represents that the good trusts were always monitored. In the back, there are bears that has a smile carrying a bag of other bears(trusts) with no label. Roosevelt's back is turned on them so they do not have Roosevelt's attention and therefore are "free"(not under his control) and do corrupt things behind his back.
Why is TR dressed that way?
TR is dressed as a hunter because it represents that he was the dominant male who was in control of the bears (trusts) and could do what he wanted. It shows that he thought that he was in control of all the trusts. However, that was not true.
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
The bears are being labeled different things like "Good"and "Bad Trusts" so it can show the public and the people seeing this cartoon how Roosevelt treats the different trusts. It shows that the Good Trust bear is on a leash and has to do what Roosevelt says while he just killed off the Bad Trusts bear and it is under his boot representing that he would get rid of it. The bear that is not labeled in the back represents the trusts that were escaping TR's attention and were able to escape with doing corrupt things such as taking other trusts. His stance in the picture shows his pride in what he killed and got rid of.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
The cartoon's overall message is that at that time, Teddy Roosevelt was in control of the trusts. He was able to get rid of bad trusts and keep a restraint on good trusts and was able to have them do what he wanted to do. There were however trusts that escaped his attention that were able to do what they wanted "behind his back", without him knowing what was going on. They were able to steal other trusts. TR was unaware of this because he was too focused on getting rid of bad trusts and keeping a leash on the good ones.
BONUS What is up with the bears in the back?
There is a bear in the back that is carrying a bag that is full of other bears. It is helping Roosevelt with getting rid of trusts that seems unnecessary.
The man with the gun is Theodore Roosevelt. The Bear that says Bad Trusts that is under Teddy's boot represents bad trusts that were corrupt. The bear that says Good Trusts that is on a leash represents that the good trusts were always monitored. In the back, there are bears that has a smile carrying a bag of other bears(trusts) with no label. Roosevelt's back is turned on them so they do not have Roosevelt's attention and therefore are "free"(not under his control) and do corrupt things behind his back.
Why is TR dressed that way?
TR is dressed as a hunter because it represents that he was the dominant male who was in control of the bears (trusts) and could do what he wanted. It shows that he thought that he was in control of all the trusts. However, that was not true.
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
The bears are being labeled different things like "Good"and "Bad Trusts" so it can show the public and the people seeing this cartoon how Roosevelt treats the different trusts. It shows that the Good Trust bear is on a leash and has to do what Roosevelt says while he just killed off the Bad Trusts bear and it is under his boot representing that he would get rid of it. The bear that is not labeled in the back represents the trusts that were escaping TR's attention and were able to escape with doing corrupt things such as taking other trusts. His stance in the picture shows his pride in what he killed and got rid of.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
The cartoon's overall message is that at that time, Teddy Roosevelt was in control of the trusts. He was able to get rid of bad trusts and keep a restraint on good trusts and was able to have them do what he wanted to do. There were however trusts that escaped his attention that were able to do what they wanted "behind his back", without him knowing what was going on. They were able to steal other trusts. TR was unaware of this because he was too focused on getting rid of bad trusts and keeping a leash on the good ones.
BONUS What is up with the bears in the back?
There is a bear in the back that is carrying a bag that is full of other bears. It is helping Roosevelt with getting rid of trusts that seems unnecessary.