Primary Source Sets: Mirror Images - NPL & IVA Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons

The use of imagery, like cartoons, to deliver political messages or commentary dates back hundreds of years. The rise of the political cartoon's popularity in the United States is credited to Benjamin Franklin, particularly with his "Join or Die" cartoon that was published in 1754. In the years since Franklin's cartoons, political cartoons became ingrained into publications (newspapers, magazines, books, and others). The cartoons themselves are a way of effectively and aggressively sharing a point of view, satire, commentary on an issue, etc. They are short and eye-catching. Their often provocative nature attracted readers and helped sell the publications. Today, political cartoons continue to be a staple of publications.

The Nonpartisan League (NPL) Era

In North Dakota, during the 1910s, political cartoons were prominently used in newspapers and magazines across the state. They became a highly effective tool of the Nonpartisan League (NPL).

The NPL, led by the charismatic A. C. Townley, was born in 1915 in North Dakota. The NPL had a progressive platform calling for many reforms, including state-run programs and institutions, which would directly challenge the "Big Business" stranglehold on banking, mills and elevators, railroads, etc. The NPL had great appeal to many residents of North Dakota, especially farmers, and its membership and influence grew quickly. In 1916, the NPL gained the governor's office and seats in the legislature. By 1918, the NPL had gained many state-elected offices and had majority control of the state legislature.

NPL membership included a subscription to the Nonpartisan Leader, which began publishing soon after the NPL was launched. The periodical included information about the NPL and articles relevant to farmers. The Nonpartisan Leader quickly became an influential publication. Of course, the periodical also included political cartoons. Many supporters of the NPL were immigrant farmers who could not read English, or speak it, so NPL used political cartoons to simplify issues and tell their story. The Nonpartisan Leader often featured imagery of the farmer being humble and "Big Biz" as being fancily dressed and greedy. Prominent cartoonists for the Nonpartisan Leader included John M. Baer and William C. Morris.

As the influence of the NPL grew in the state, so did its opposition. A political battle was brewing in the state between the NPL and those who opposed it. The most successful organization that opposed the NPL was the Independent Voters Association (IVA), which was formed in 1918.

In the fall of 1919, Carl R. Kositzky (State Auditor) and others banded together and began publishing a vicious anti-NPL magazine called the Red Flame. Its first issue was published in November 1919 and it continued until October 1920. Kositzky was the publisher of the Red Flame, and Thomas H. Foley of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was its cartoonist. The Red Flame featured many anti-NPL cartoons during its run. Most of them were original creations from Foley, who signed his illustrations with "Thomas." However, several cartoons reused old NPL cartoons and turned them against the organization. These reimagined cartoons from Foley originally came from Baer and Morris.

The Set/ Analyzing the Cartoons

Political cartoons can provide glimpses into the past. They tell a story of key moments in history. Careful analysis can provide a deeper understanding of the context and issues presented in the cartoons.

The Primary Source Set below features "mirror image" cartoons from the Nonpartisan Leader (which supported the NPL) and the Red Flame (which opposed the NPL). The cartoons are virtually the same, but they present different messages. The NPL cartoons that were reimagined or reused by its opposition are what make up the set. The NPL versions from Baer and Morris (from the Nonpartisan Leader) are the originals, and the Foley versions (from the Red Flame) came later. Although the Red Flame was not directly associated with the IVA, its political cartoons used in this set are still labeled as "IVA" to help distinguish them as being anti-NPL.

Discussion questions and additional resources are available at the bottom of the page below the cartoons.