Judge — January 6, 1900 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "The Twentieth Century Ends the Nineteenth Century" This January 6, 1900 *Judge* cover depicts the transition between centuries as military conflict. The central figure in a spiked Prussian helmet (representing German militarism or imperial power) confronts soldiers from the previous era. The caption states "THE NEW CENTURY ENDS THE NINETEENTH CENTURY'S REIGN OF PEACE." The satire suggests that the 1900s will be characterized by warfare and aggression, contrasting with a (idealized) peaceful nineteenth century. The caricatured soldiers and military imagery emphasize this shift toward conflict. The Boer War (1899-1902) was ongoing, likely informing this pessimistic view of the new century's prospects for continued peace.