Judge — January 20, 1900 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This four-panel cartoon uses historical parallels to comment on American expansion and conflict around 1900. **The panels depict:** 1. **King George III expelling the Puritan** (Revolutionary War reference) 2. **George Washington expelling "Johnny" (Britain) from America** (1776) 3. **1864**: Uncle Sam warns someone becoming "mighty big and clever"—likely referring to a rival power threatening American dominance 4. **1898**: Uncle Sam ("Sammy") encourages action against a figure, with European nations opposing ("even if the European nations are against you") **The satire:** The cartoon draws a parallel between America's founding struggle against British imperial control and America's current imperial ambitions. It suggests Uncle Sam is now doing what King George did—aggressively expanding—but frames this as justified because America is the "good guy." The 1898 date references the Spanish-American War, suggesting America should pursue imperial interests regardless of European opposition. The joke is ironic: America criticizes the tyranny it once fought, yet mimics it.