Who'll Bell the Cat?
7/29/1898
Add to Favorites:
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
This cartoon showing the U.S. as a cat guarding cheese from jealous mice reflects America’s challenge in keeping the Philippines and the European powers’ desire to acquire territory after Spain’s military defeat in the summer of 1898. Naval victories left the U.S. dominating the Philippines — but as a cat with cheese, it was not necessarily in the nation’s interest to maintain possession.
Meanwhile, resurgent European powers hoped to take advantage of the opportunity created by Spain’s defeat. The cartoon draws on a fable about mice who hatch a plan to lessen the danger of a cat by stringing a bell around its neck. As an impossible task for a mouse, it illustrates the difference between how a plan sounds in theory and its sensibleness.
The cartoon implies that the likelihood of European nations gaining control of the Philippines is minimal as long as the U.S. is willing to maintain a military force in the islands.
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.
Meanwhile, resurgent European powers hoped to take advantage of the opportunity created by Spain’s defeat. The cartoon draws on a fable about mice who hatch a plan to lessen the danger of a cat by stringing a bell around its neck. As an impossible task for a mouse, it illustrates the difference between how a plan sounds in theory and its sensibleness.
The cartoon implies that the likelihood of European nations gaining control of the Philippines is minimal as long as the U.S. is willing to maintain a military force in the islands.
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: 6010285
Full Citation: Cartoon Y-032; Who'll Bell the Cat?; 7/29/1898; 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/wholl-bell-cat, December 8, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
