Question

what issue does this cartoon address?

abuses of big business
efforts of union organizers
power of political machines
impact of european immigrants

Explanation:

Identify the historical figure and context

The cartoon depicts a large, well-dressed man leaning on a ballot box. The caption below identifies him as "Boss Tweed" and quotes him: "As long as I count the Votes, what are you going to do about it? say?" This refers to William "Boss" Tweed, the leader of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that dominated New York City politics in the late 19th century.

Analyze the visual symbols

The ballot box is labeled "The Ballot," and the pedestal reads "In counting there is strength." This is a direct satire of electoral fraud. It shows that the democratic process of voting is controlled and manipulated by the political boss who controls the tallying of the votes, rendering the actual ballots meaningless.

Evaluate the answer choices

• Abuses of big business: While Tweed had connections to wealthy industrialists, the cartoon specifically focuses on voting, elections, and political control rather than corporate monopolies.
• Efforts of union organizers: The cartoon does not depict labor unions, strikes, or workers' rights.
• Power of political machines: Tammany Hall was a classic political machine. The cartoon directly addresses how these organizations maintained power through corruption, patronage, and election fraud ("counting the votes"). This matches the cartoon's message perfectly.
• Impact of European immigrants: Although Tammany Hall mobilized immigrant voters to gain power, the primary issue depicted here is the corruption of the democratic process by the machine itself.

Formulate the final explanation

The cartoon by Thomas Nast targets the corruption of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, illustrating how political machines undermined democracy by controlling the vote-counting process to maintain their political dominance.

Answer:

• Abuses of big business
• Efforts of union organizers
• Power of political machines (Correct answer)
• Impact of European immigrants