Life — February 10, 1916 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Oho Cusacas cartoon commemorates America's 150th anniversary by contrasting two historical moments. The upper panel depicts Revolutionary War soldiers defending against British invasion. The lower panel shows a modern (1926) German military officer in a spiked Prussian helmet confronting American businessmen around a table displaying consumer goods. The satire suggests that America now faces economic rather than military invasion—specifically from German commercial interests. The contrast implies that while Americans successfully repelled foreign military conquest in 1776, they may be vulnerable to foreign economic penetration through trade and commerce in 1926. The well-fed businessman figures appear unprepared for this new type of "invasion," contrasting sharply with the vigilant Revolutionary soldiers above.