Judge — January 22, 1898 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "U.S. Crowned with Gold" — Judge Magazine, January 22, 1898 This satirical map shows the continental United States overlaid with what appears to be a crown design. The title "U.S. Crowned with Gold" likely references the gold rush and American expansion during the 1890s. The map emphasizes territorial growth and economic prosperity, with state boundaries marked and shaded regions suggesting newly acquired or economically significant areas. The crown imagery suggests triumphalism about American power and wealth. This appeared during the Spanish-American War era (1898), when American imperialism and territorial expansion were major political topics. The cartoon appears to celebrate American dominance and golden prosperity, though the crown might also carry ironic undertones about American imperial ambitions depending on Judge magazine's satirical stance at that moment.