The Wasp — July 10, 1880 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This is an anti-immigration political cartoon from *The Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine. The central image depicts California as an octopus with tentacles reaching across the state's geography. The octopus appears to represent an invasive threat—likely representing either Chinese immigrants or immigration generally, a major political flashpoint in late-19th-century California. Two figures on either side of the map appear to be examining or confronting this octopus threat. The caption references "immigrants," and the overall message warns against the perceived danger immigration posed to California. This reflects the xenophobic sentiment common in American political satire of this era, particularly the anti-Chinese sentiment prevalent on the West Coast.