Judge — August 10, 1895 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "The Trouble in Cuba" (Judge, August 10, 1895) This cartoon depicts Uncle Sam eyeing Cuba as a desirable acquisition. The map shows Cuba positioned near the Gulf of Mexico, with bold lines emphasizing its proximity to U.S. territory. The caption—"I've had my eye on that morsel for a long time; guess I'll have to take it in!"—expresses American imperial ambitions. This reflects the 1895 Cuban independence struggle against Spanish colonial rule. The "morsel" metaphor suggests Cuba as territory ripe for U.S. expansion. This cartoon satirizes American imperialism and interventionist desires that would culminate in the Spanish-American War (1898), after which the U.S. gained control of Cuba and other Spanish territories.