A Christmas Eve Contrast
12/24/1914
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During World War I, President Wilson’s policy of “watchful waiting” made Americans spectators to a war of unmatched destruction that killed millions of soldiers and destroyed the homes of millions of civilians. This cartoon contrasts the lives of American children enjoying a peaceful holiday with the poverty of children in a war zone. It appeared on the front page of the newspaper alongside articles dominated by war news and appeals for public support of war-related charities.
An official holiday message might have influenced the cartoonist's design. The press reproduced several holiday statements issued by Cabinet Members on the day this cartoon was printed. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels wrote, “The great sorrow and need of the world is increased because so many children in Europe have been orphaned…” But, he continued, “Thousands of American children… in cottages as well as in brownstones have sacrificed to send them material aid.”
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
An official holiday message might have influenced the cartoonist's design. The press reproduced several holiday statements issued by Cabinet Members on the day this cartoon was printed. Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels wrote, “The great sorrow and need of the world is increased because so many children in Europe have been orphaned…” But, he continued, “Thousands of American children… in cottages as well as in brownstones have sacrificed to send them material aid.”
This cartoon was drawn by Clifford Berryman, one of Washington, DC's best-known cartoonists in the early to mid-1900s. Berryman drew for the Washington Post and Evening Star newspapers. His cartoons touched on a variety of subjects including politics, elections, and both World Wars.
This cartoon is featured in America and the World: Foreign Affairs in Political Cartoons, 1898–1940, a free PDF book from the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Senate .
National Archives Identifier: 6011091
Full Citation: Cartoon W-049; A Christmas Eve Contrast; 12/24/1914; Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, 1896-1949; Records of the U.S. Senate , Record Group 46 ; National Archives Building, Washington DC, 20408. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/christmas-eve-contrast, April 27, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.