Question

final analysis
task: examine the cartoon below and answer the analysis questions based on your knowledge about us history and the labor events you just learned. (original source available here: library of congress and american social history project)
knights shield reads \corruption of the legislature\, horse armor reads \monopoly\
hat reads \labor\, hammer reads \strike\ and horse reads \poverty\
analysis questions:

1. close reading: based on the images in the cartoon above, whom do you think would win the tournament created by the illustrator - the monopolies or labor? why?
2. explain: what statement do you think the cartoonist was trying to make about the labor movement in the gilded age? how do the four events examined in this activity (haymarket riot, homestead strike, pullman strike, and the ludlow massacre) support any claims the cartoonist might have been trying to make?

Explanation:

1. The monopolies appear to be the likely "winners" in the cartoon. The knight representing monopolies is well - armored with "corruption of the legislature" on the shield and "monopoly" on the horse armor, suggesting they have political and economic power. The labor figure is on a smaller horse, labeled with "poverty", indicating a disadvantaged position.
2. The cartoonist likely wanted to convey that during the Gilded Age, labor faced significant challenges against powerful monopolies. The Haymarket Riot, Homestead Strike, Pullman Strike, and Ludlow Massacre all show instances where labor was met with force or had difficult circumstances. These events support the claim that labor was at a disadvantage, as they often ended poorly for workers, highlighting the imbalance of power between labor and monopolies.

Answer:

1. The monopolies would win. They are depicted as well - armed and powerful with political corruption and economic dominance, while labor is shown as poor and disadvantaged.
2. The cartoonist was likely making the statement that labor had a difficult time against powerful monopolies in the Gilded Age. The four events support this as they show labor facing harsh opposition and often ending in negative outcomes for workers, highlighting the power imbalance.