Judge — March 25, 1916 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Running the Blockade" - Judge Magazine, March 25, 1916 This political cartoon satirizes efforts to circumvent the British naval blockade of Germany during World War I. The well-dressed man in the center appears to represent a neutral trader or smuggler attempting to conduct business with Germany despite the blockade. The woman on the ladder (likely representing America or American commerce) is being pulled back, while the figure on the right (possibly a British official) watches the illegal transaction. The cartoon criticizes American merchants who profited by running supplies through the British blockade to supply Germany. This was a contentious issue in 1916—the U.S. remained officially neutral until 1917, but American businesses traded with both sides, fueling debate about true neutrality and national allegiances during the war.