answer: interpret the cartoon. what historical event/issue is being represented?
the historical events being represented here are the surrender’s of two major british armies. the first came at saratoga where general burgyone surrendered to general horiato gates and the second came at yorktown where general cornwallis was surrounded by george washington and french admiral de grasse. this is clearly displayed in the way the snake, america, is surrounding the 2 armies in its coils.
2. what is the message that the cartoonist is trying to convey? which side of the issue does he support?
the cartoonist is trying to tell the british that their attempts are useless and that they stand no chance against the american army. this is seen by the way the snake is already coiled around the two british armies and that its third coil announces its vacancy and availability to hold another british army in case they decide to take another shot at the americans. this cartoonist very obviously supports the revolutionary cause considering how much he bashes on the british in this cartoon. the confident and almost cocky way in which he says that the americans could defeat yet another british army shows that he is a clear revolutionist.
3. what effect(s) did this cartoon have on american history? what were the results of this issue being addressed?
the “american rattlesnake” had an effect on the thinking of the british people about the revolution in the colonies. many people were already concerned about the war and doubted it could be won in 1782 when the cartoon was published in britain. this cartoon just encouraged this and forced the british to negotiate that much faster. it also to encourage the notion that the colonies were much stronger united rather than disjointed. the cartoon to encourage the british to negotiate a treaty and to unite the colonies. it also foreshadowed the remaining conflicts that would be solved in the war of 1812
