The Purchase of Alaska

In 1867, William Seward arranged the purchase of Alaska. He was criticized for spending $7.2 million to purchase Alaska from Russia. The cartoonists message on this is that the purchase of Alaska was a waste of money. The cartoonist uses symbolism and labeling. Symbolism is represented because when Seward made the purchase, newspapers called Alaska Seward's icebox or Seward's folly because they thought it was a waste of money. Labeling is used here by the wagon that says treaty. This supports my view on American imperialism because it is showing the purchase of Alaska in a negative way, such as representing it as a block of ice.

  

  

Fine Art America. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2016. <http://fineartamerica.com/products/alaska-purchase-cartoon-granger-tote-bag-     18-18.html>.