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La Follette and For Any Old Trust Bat, 1906

Buy a copy of this image: WHI 5587

Cartoons in Sunday comic strips make us laugh. Political cartoons in the front section of the newspaper challenge us to think.

Because political cartoons present a particular point of view or story through symbolism and caricature, they are a particularly effective method for teaching history.

By interpreting political cartoons, students are encouraged to discover different points of view on the same historical event.

The three political cartoons in this section focus on Robert M. La Follette; they offer an additional opportunity to explore the progressive era in Wisconsin. Suggested activities, brief histories on each cartoon, a one-page biography of La Follette, and an introduction to cartoon analysis are also included.

Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze primary source documents
• Examine differing perspectives on historical events
• Learn about political cartoon analysis

Background

It is difficult to study about the Progressive Era without seeing references to the model of progressive reform - Wisconsin. The state gained this reputation by initiating substantial legislative reforms and their subsequent promotion by forward-thinking leaders. Robert M. La Follette's charisma and drive, as governor, encouraged an environment open to change in the state and helped institute legislative reforms. After his election to the U.S. Senate, La Follette showcased Wisconsin as the shining example of progressive reforms and was never far removed home-state politics.

Resource Materials

• Primary Source: Political Cartoon, For Any Old Trust (PDF)
• Primary Source: Political Cartoon, La Follette's Strongest Card (PDF)
• Primary Source: Political Cartoon, Originally Suppressed by the Wisconsin State Journal (PDF)
• Student Worksheet: Brief history of each political cartoon (PDF)
• Student Worksheet: Guided questions for political cartoon analysis (PDF)
• Student Worksheet: Introduction to Cartoon Analysis sheet (PDF)
• Studnet Worksheet: Brief, one-page Robert M. La Follette biography (PDF)
• Primary Source: Transcribed excerpt of La Follette's speech on railroad rates (PDF)
• Primary Source: Senate Gallery Passes from Senator Robert M. La Follette (PDF)

Procedures

1. The Story Behind the Cartoon

   After students have read their textbook chapter on progressive reform, highlight the material about Robert M. La Follette by asking students to list three main points about La Follette. Then have students examine the La Follette cartoons as an anticipatory set, using basic questions such as: What do you see? What is happening? Do the cartoons clarify the threepoints gathered from the textbook or pose additional questions? Briefly discuss the issues being depicted in the cartoons. The class should recognize that at this point their interpretation of the cartoon may be superficial. Then ask students to do further research on the cartoon characters, answering the questions on the cartoon analysis sheet. Suggested resources include:

   • One page biography on Robert M. La Follette
   • La Follette, Robert. La Follette Autobiography. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1960; pages 98–137.
   • Risjord, Norman K. Wisconsin: The Story of the Badger State. Madison: Wisconsin Trails, 1995; pages 153–169.

2. The Other Side

   Each of these political cartoons presents a particular viewpoint or story. Ask students to discover these viewpoints using the cartoon analysis sheet and then create a cartoon that would present a different side of the story. Students should be able to point out the similarities and differences in each cartoon.

Enhancement

For further study of the Progressive Era through political cartoons, please see the secondary lesson plan for grade 6-8, Understanding Bias, from the Office of School Services.

Bibliography/Links

• Barton, Albert O. La Follette's Winning of Wisconsin (1894-1904). Madison: The Homestead Company, 1922.
• Buenker, John D. and Edward R. Kantowicz. Historical Dictionary of the Progressive Era, 1890-1920. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988.
• Buenker, John D. The History of Wisconsin Volume IV. The Progressive Era, 1893-1914. Madison: The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1998.
• Buenker, John D. "Robert M. La Follette's Progressive Odyssey." Wisconsin Magazine of History. 1 (1998): 3-31.
• Clark, James I. Robert M. La Follette and Wisconsin Progressivism. Madison: The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1956.
• Heitzmann, William Ray. "Looking at Elections through the Cartoonist's Eye." Social Education. 5 (2000): 314-319.
• La Follette, Robert M. La Follette Autobiography. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1960.
• Margulies, Herbert. "Robert M. La Follette as Presidential Aspirant: The First Campaign, 1908." Wisconsin Magazine of History. 4 (1997): 258-279.
• Maxwell, Robert S. La Follette. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1969.
• McCarthy, Charles. The Wisconsin Idea. Wisconsin Electronic Reader. (1998).
• Otto, Max C. "Washington, the '20's." Wisconsin Magazine of History. Winter (1959): 109-111.
• Risjord, Norman K. Wisconsin: The Story of the Badger State. Madison: Wisconsin Trails, 1995.
• "Robert Marion La Follette." Wisconsin Electronic Reader. (1998).
• Steffens, Lincoln. "Wisconsin: A State Where People Have Restored Representative Government - The Story of Governor La Follette." McClure's Magazine. 6 (1904): 563-579.
• Torelle, Ellen. The Political Philosophy of Robert M. La Follette - As Revealed in His Speeches. Madison: Robert M. La Follette Co., 1920.
• Weisberger, Bernard A. The La Follettes of Wisconsin: Love and Politics in Progressive America. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1994.

Primary Sources Used in Lesson

• Kander, Lizzie Black.  Speech "The Greatest Issue of the Day," Milwaukee.  In Mrs. Simon Kander Papers, 1875-1960. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
• La Follette, Robert M. Scrapbook, 1900. In Robert M. La Follette Papers, 1879-1910, 1922-1924. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
• La Follette, Robert M. Speech "Dangers Threatening Representative Government," In Robert M. La Follette Papers, 1879-1910, 1922-1924. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
• McCutcheon, John. Cartoon "Mr. La Follette's Strongest Card," 1911. In Visual Archives WHi(X3)3111. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
• McWhorter. Cartoon, c.1906. In Visual Archives WHi(X3)18449. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
• Photographs of Robert M. La Follette. Cumberland, 1897. In Visual Archives WHi (X3)14090, 14088, 14089, 1449. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

Credit

This lesson was developed by the Office of School Services for use in the secondary-level classroom. Please adapt to fit your students' needs.