Question

PLEASE HELP STUCK ON THESE QUESTIONS

“Andrew Johnson Kicking Freedmen’s Bureau”
5. What do you think was the cartoonist’s purpose in creating this work?
6. Who do you think the intended audience was? Why do you think this?
7. What is the tone of this cartoon?
8. Based on your observations of this cartoon, what three things can you infer from it?

Answer 1

When was this cartoon drawn?

1866

What is the subject of the cartoon?

the veto of the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill by President Andrew Johnson

What did the cartoonist include in the cartoon?

People:

• Andrew Johnson

• African Americans (former

slaves)

Objects:

• building
• dresser (bureau)

Events/Actions:

• the veto of a bill

Symbolism

• The small piece of furniture (commonly referred to as a bureau) represents the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill.

What do you think was the cartoonist’s purpose in creating this work?

Answers may vary, but students may suggest that Nast was trying to show that by vetoing the bill, Johnson did not care about the plight of African Americans in the Reconstruction South.

Who do you think the intended audience was? Why do you think this?

Answers will vary. The intended audience might have been people in the North who needed to be persuaded that the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill was important legislation that would benefit African Americans in the South.

What is the tone of this cartoon?

Answers will vary. Students may suggest that the tone is one of anger, that Nast was aware of his audience, and that he was acting in a private capacity to influence public opinion.

Answer 2

5. The purpose of the cartoon was to create sympathy for the African Americans, considering AJ despised them.

6. The intended audience was anyone who did not agree with AJ's veto. The cartoonist's purpose was to raise awareness to this issue.

7. The tone is obviously sympathy with a hint of bigotry considering Andrew Johnson's large head.

8. AJ was literally kicking out the Bureau with his veto, as illustrated in the cartoon. Racism is still largely prevalent in the government. Congress and the president disagreed on this issue. Newspaper headlines all around the country read, "SIDE WITH CONGRESS, SIDE WITH THE NEGROES. SIDE WITH THE PRESIDENT, SIDE WITH THE WHITE MAN."

Hope this helped.