"The Americanese Wall," March 25, 1916

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "The Americanese wall - as Congressman [John Lawson] Burnett would build it," 25 March 1916

Description 

This political cartoon shows Uncle Sam behind a high wall marked "Literacy Test," which is spiked with pen points. The message on the political cartoon reads: "You're welcome, if you can climb it."

Transcript of "The Americanese Wall"

Source-Dependent Questions

• How does the artist visually convey what immigrants will have to do to climb the Americanese Wall?
• Why might a literacy test make it difficult for immigrants to succeed?

Citation Information 

"The Americanese wall - as Congressman [John Lawson] Burnett would build it," 25 March 1916. Courtesy of Library of Congress