Answer:
Below are some key points that can help determine the meaning of this political cartoon:
The cartoon was made during the era of Reconstruction in the United States. It illustrates the difficult task of uniting the nation after the bitter Civil War.
The characters are labeled President Abraham Lincoln and Vice President Andrew Johnson.
Each character has a line of dialogue. Johnson says, "Take it quietly Uncle Abe and I will draw it closer than ever." Lincoln says, "A few more stitches Andy and the good old Union will be mended." The caption says, "The Rail Splitter Repairing the Union."
The informal style of the dialogue and the reference to President Lincoln as a rail splitter suggest the two are not able to accomplish the task of “repairing the Union.”
The humorous visual setting reinforces the idea that the task is too huge for these two men to achieve. Johnson will not be able to sew up the torn map of the nation with a needle and thread. Lincoln will not be able to effectively move the globe using a rail as his lever.
The overall message is that the United States will never be united, despite the efforts of Reconstruction