Impact of 1929 Economic Crash on American Politics

McCutcheon, John. “A Good Hand for One is a Poor Hand for the Other.” Chicago Tribune, 15 October 1930. From National Political Cartoon Collection, Volume 18. Loras College Center for Dubuque History.  Dubuque, Iowa.

The Republican Party, represented by the elephant, faced difficult midterm elections due to the economic crisis we now call the Great Depression.  As the “Ins,” they considered the issues facing America as “A Bum Hand.”  On the other hand, the Democratic Party—represented by the donkey—could use this same hand to win upcoming electoral contests.  Political cartoonists, like John McCutcheon, use easily recognizable symbols and situations to efficiently convey information and entertain readers.

Orr, Carey. “Is Politics Responsible for Business Conditions?” Chicago Tribune, 31 October 1930. From National Political Cartoon Collection, Volume 18. Loras College Center for Dubuque History.  Dubuque, Iowa. 

The 1920s was a time of economic prosperity. Businesses were thriving, investments were strong, consumption was consistent, people had work.  Of course, Carey Orr opines, the “party in power” would claim the success. But after the Stock Market crash in the fall of 1929, and the domino effects the collapse had on the economy in 1930, the Republican Party did not want to claim responsibility for the economy. Through the words and expressions of his characters, the cartoonist accurately describes the relationship to success and failure political parties attribute to one another.  Interestingly, the Republican wears the suit coat, hat and tie of a city person while the Democrat, “not in power,” wears items more symbolic of rural America.