This cartoon depicts King Manuel II fleeing Portugal after the Republican Revolution, which occurred in 1910. Before the revolution, Portugal had a constitutional monarchy, modeled in a similar fashion to that of Great Britain. In the decades before the revolution, the monarchy faced adversity by lower factions of society. The monarchy ruled Portugal in combination with aristocratic oligarchies, which maintained a relatively stable political status quo. Eventually, these oligarchies failed to maintain power, and the political situation in Portugal became increasingly unstable. Hatred for the monarchy grew to the point when King Carlos and his first son where jointly assassinated in 1908. Manuel II began to rule Portugal in his father's place, but failed to quell the urge to rebel among his people. On October 5, 1910, the violent revolution began in Lisbon, leaving hundreds dead in the struggle. Manuel II and his family fled, hoping to receive news that loyalist forces managed to overcome the revolutionaries. After realizing the revolutionaries had succeeded, Manuel II fled to England. The English government sympathized with the Portuguese monarchy. The new republican government maintained power and Portugal never returned to a constitutional monarchy structure. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

This cartoon illustrates a comparison between "old" and "new" styles of politics in the United States. The men shown in the left panels represent political bosses who sought to influence elections for their own benefit. The people portrayed on the right panels display a more modern approach to politics. This approach included more open and transparent campaigns, and women were allowed to participate in a limited capacity. The political bosses appear confused at this new way of engaging politics. The "old way" of politics shows the bosses holding primary elections only amongst themselves, buying drinks for other men, and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. The "new way" of politics shows men and women enjoying parties, banquets, and picnics in a family-friendly environment. The political bosses are shocked and confused to see how politics has changed overtime. The shift in politics occurred as women became more involved with political initiatives such as abolition or prohibition. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Editorial cartoon depicting the aftermath of the shooting of Gaston Calmette on March 16, 1914. Calmette was a longtime critic of the policies and politics of Joseph Caillaux, the Prime Minister of France, and as editor of the Le Figaro newspaper he published a letter belonging to Caillaux. Henriette Caillaux, a Parisian socialite and second wife of the Prime Minister, believed that Calmette would publish other private letters about the affair she had with her husband while they were both married to other people. Madame Caillaux met with Calmette at his office, shot him six times, and he died six hours later; she was acquitted three months after that because the murder was ruled a crime of passion. This cartoon shows the mass amount of public sympathy for Madame Caillaux in France and the United States. (Summary edited by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

This cartoon depicts Richard Achilles Ballinger, the Secretary of Interior, acting smug over the whitewashed Republican majority report that declares him guiltless while the Democratic insurgent minority report declares him guilty and unfit. Ballinger was part of a controversial affair in 1910 that went down in history as either the Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy or the Ballinger Affair. The Ballinger Affair began over an investigation into Clarence Cunningham, who was suspected of illegally transferring land ownership in Alaska to commercial third parties. This investigation began under the Roosevelt administration. Ballinger, the General Land Office Commissioner, eventually concluded the investigation without the approval of his the Secretary of Interior, as he was required. Ballinger left his position for private practice as Cunningham's personal counsel, but he returned to served as Secretary of Interior under President Taft. Ballinger tried to resolve the allegations against Cunningham, but faced great backlash from other members of the administration, including Chief Forester, Gifford Pinchot. Pinchot, among others, accused Ballinger of negligence and endangering public lands. A committee was formed to determine Ballinger's guilt. With the exception of one Republican, all the Republicans on the committee ruled in favor of Ballinger, and all the Democrats on the committee ruled against Ballinger. The Ballinger Affair led to mass criticism of the Taft administration.The dispute between Ballinger and United States Forest Service Chief Gifford Pinchot that contributed to the split of the Republican party before the 1912 presidential election. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

This cartoon depicts Richard Achilles Ballinger, the Secretary of Interior, sweating during a cabinet meeting with President Taft. Ballinger was part of a controversial affair in 1910 that went down in history as either the Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy or the Ballinger Affair. The Ballinger Affair began over an investigation into Clarence Cunningham, who was suspected of illegally transferring land ownership in Alaska to commercial third parties. This investigation began under the Roosevelt administration. Ballinger, the General Land Office Commissioner, eventually concluded the investigation without the approval of his the Secretary of Interior, as he was required. Ballinger left his position for private practice as Cunningham's personal counsel, but he returned to served as Secretary of Interior under President Taft. Ballinger tried to resolve the allegations against Cunningham, but faced great backlash from other members of the administration, including Chief Forester, Gifford Pinchot. Pinchot, among others, accused Ballinger of negligence and endangering public lands. A committee was formed to determine Ballinger's guilt. With the exception of one Republican, all the Republicans on the committee ruled in favor of Ballinger, and all the Democrats on the committee ruled against Ballinger. The Ballinger Affair led to mass criticism of the Taft administration.The dispute between Ballinger and United States Forest Service Chief Gifford Pinchot that contributed to the split of the Republican party before the 1912 presidential election. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

This cartoon depicts a Japanese immigrant attempting to buy property from a white man. As negotiations continue, more Japanese owned stores appear in the background of the the cartoon.Eventually the white man's disposition shifts from enraged to eager as he finally accepts the offer. This cartoon is offering perspective on the relationship between Japanese immigrants and white Americans in the United States, particularly California. The California Alien Land Law of 1913 was passed the same year this cartoon was created.This law prohibited "aliens ineligible for citizenship" from owning agricultural land or possessing long-term leases, but permitted short-term leases lasting up to three years. This law did not have a large tangible impact on Japanese citizens. However, the law remains relevant, because it reflects the discrimination against Japanese immigrants occuring in the 1910s. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

Editorial cartoon depicting John Bull, the Uncle Sam of the United Kingdom, looking for Éamon de Valera, an Irish political leader rumored to have been a British spy.

Editorial cartoon depicting a stockbroker trying and failing to predict trends in the stock market.

This cartoon depicts President Taft creating a message regarding railroad freight rates. In the 1910, a large portion of goods was transported on railroads in the United States. Railroad owners made large profits by charging rates to ship cargo from one location to another. One of the books in the cartoon is titled, "injunction". This likely refers to the injunction granted by Judge David P. Driver against 25 western railroads located throughout the Midwest to the West Coast, who were all members of the Western Traffic Association. This injunction was granted in Hannibal, Missouri, as a result of an executive order from President Taft. This injunction prevented any of these railroads from raising or adjusting their rates in anyway. The special assistant to the Attorney General, Edwin Grosvenor, presented charges against these railroad companies in St. Louis, Missouri. These charges allegations of price-fixing and conspiracy between these companies to collectively raise rates. President Taft's administration is known for a hard stance against trusts. Taft's predecessor, President Theodore Roosevelt, began this practice during his own administration. Another project begun during President Roosevelt's administration: the construction and governance of the Panama Canal is also shown in this cartoon. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)

This cartoon depicts a meeting between Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria, Russia, and Germany. Germany stands at the head of the table. All the countries present are part of the Central Powers with the exception of Russia. The Central Powers are countries that fought against the Allied Powers or supportive of the Allied Powers (England, France, Italy, the United States, etc.) in World War I. World War I began July 28, 1914, a few months before this cartoon was drawn. These countries are having a meeting about declaring an armistice to end fighting in WWI. The Central Powers wanted the terms of the armistice to be the countries of Europe would return to their original states before the war began. This was seen as unacceptable to the Allied Powers, due to the immense loss of life and unacceptable behavior of the Central Powers in starting WWI. All the empty seats of the Allied Powers demonstrate their complete lack of willingness to negotiate the end of the war with the Central Powers on their terms. The Allies would eventually win World War I in 1918 and place harsh war reparations on the Central Powers, particularly Germany. (Summary created by Mary Delano, MU History Intern, Spring 2018)