Question

Analyze the political cartoon below, "An End to Slavery" by Thomas Nast.

A) The agreement is between abolitionists and slave owners, suggesting a compromise on slavery.
B) The handshake signifies a resolution between the North and South, ending the Civil War.
C) African Americans are shaking hands with white Americans, symbolizing racial harmony and equality.
D) The Union as It Was refers to maintaining slavery, and This Is a White Man's Government reinforces white supremacy.

Answer 1

The political cartoon by Thomas Nast, "An End to Slavery," illustrates the racial strife during the Reconstruction era, depicting the White League and Ku Klux Klan uniting under white supremacist ideals, contrary to any sense of abolitionist victory or racial harmony.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thomas Nast's political cartoon "An End to Slavery" depicts not a celebration of abolitionist victory or emancipation, but a grim portrayal of the racist attitudes and violence during the Reconstruction era. Option D from the multiple choices provided is correct. The cartoon shows a handshake between the White League and the Ku Klux Klan, groups known for their opposition to racial equality and their support for white supremacy. The imagery of a weeping couple over a baby and violent backgrounds, including a lynching and a burning schoolhouse, indicate a tragic scene subsumed under the slogan "The Union as It Was: This Is a White Man's Government," echoing the White Leagues' desire to revert to antebellum racial hierarchies and undo the strides made toward black citizenship and suffrage after the Civil War.