Theodore Roosevelt and the Bears
What does each "character" in the cartoon represent?
-bear hunter: Teddy Roosevelt as the president.
-bad trusts: corruption within large enterprises and the government; exploited consumers and
jacked up rates
-good trusts: those who were loyal to the government and were making profit
-bear in the back: the trusts that were not seen under TR's control
Why is TR dressed that way?
TR is dressed that way because he wanted to destroy the bad trusts and allow the good trusts
so that he could gain authority. By dressing like this, it symbolizes that he was in control of the
good trusts and had the power to destroy trusts if they didn't meet his needs.
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
The purpose of the bears being labeled different things is that each bear would be able to
symbolize both good trusts and bad trusts. The bears that are labeled "good trusts" symbolize
the trusts that TR would be able to control and keep from becoming a bad trust. He keeps them
restrained and seems like he owns them. On the other hand, the bears labeled "bad trust" are
killed. TR believed that the government should stop the bad trusts and keep the good trust.
He wanted to end the influence of the big corporations and corrupt government officials who
abused their powers. A good trust was one that provided good service at reasonable rates. A
bad trust was one that jacked up rates and exploited consumers.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
-show that TR is an authoritative figure
-show the different types of trusts that TR supported and controlled
-show that TR was trying to control aspects of the American society
-show that he tried to prevent good trusts from becoming bad trusts
What is up with the bears in the back?
The bears in the back are those that avoided TR's grasp. They are sneaky and are able to
escape TR's iron grip. These signify that some trusts were not under TR's control and might not
have been labeled good or bad.
-bear hunter: Teddy Roosevelt as the president.
-bad trusts: corruption within large enterprises and the government; exploited consumers and
jacked up rates
-good trusts: those who were loyal to the government and were making profit
-bear in the back: the trusts that were not seen under TR's control
Why is TR dressed that way?
TR is dressed that way because he wanted to destroy the bad trusts and allow the good trusts
so that he could gain authority. By dressing like this, it symbolizes that he was in control of the
good trusts and had the power to destroy trusts if they didn't meet his needs.
What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different things?
The purpose of the bears being labeled different things is that each bear would be able to
symbolize both good trusts and bad trusts. The bears that are labeled "good trusts" symbolize
the trusts that TR would be able to control and keep from becoming a bad trust. He keeps them
restrained and seems like he owns them. On the other hand, the bears labeled "bad trust" are
killed. TR believed that the government should stop the bad trusts and keep the good trust.
He wanted to end the influence of the big corporations and corrupt government officials who
abused their powers. A good trust was one that provided good service at reasonable rates. A
bad trust was one that jacked up rates and exploited consumers.
What is the overall message of this cartoon?
-show that TR is an authoritative figure
-show the different types of trusts that TR supported and controlled
-show that TR was trying to control aspects of the American society
-show that he tried to prevent good trusts from becoming bad trusts
What is up with the bears in the back?
The bears in the back are those that avoided TR's grasp. They are sneaky and are able to
escape TR's iron grip. These signify that some trusts were not under TR's control and might not
have been labeled good or bad.