The Monkey System or "Every One for Himself at the Expense of His Neighbor!!!!!!!!"
Permanent ID:
12341Language:
EnglishDate:
1831Image Description:
The economic plan known as the "American system" is caricatured in this lithographed political cartoon. The American system is depicted as a menagerie consisting of four cages of monkeys (including one mandrill) who reach between the bars to steal food from other cages. The cages are labeled "Home," "Consumption," "Internal," and "Improvement." In front of the monkey cages, at far right, stands Henry Clay, a proponent of the economic plan, who calls out "Walk in! Walk in! and see the new improved grand, original American system!" At left, Daniel Webster sits by the door of the menagerie, grinding an organ and singing "Hail Columbia! happy land!" At far left, a man walks into the menagerie and declares "What a humbug!" Historian Frank Weitenkampf identifies this man as Andrew Jackson. This seems unlikely, as most cartoons of Jackson depict the president with unruly white hair and wearing glasses, whereas this man appears younger and has dark hair.Format:
Lithographs; Political cartoonsPublisher:
Collection:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania cartoons and caricatures collectionRelated People or Organizations:
Edward Williams Clay, 1799-1857 (artist)Moloshok, Rachel (Transcribed by)
Moloshok, Rachel (Encoded by)
Historical Society of Pennsylvania (repository)
Andrew Jackson, 1767-1845 (depicted)
Daniel Webster, 1782-1852 (depicted)
Henry Clay, 1777-1852 (depicted)
Edward Williams Clay, 1799-1857 (publisher)