Overview:
The term "teddy bear," used to describe a
stuffed toy bear, originated in 1902 during the Theodore
Roosevelt's presidency. By examining the political cartoons
of Clifford K. Berryman, students will learn that the
teddy bear is a relatively new concept that derived
from Theodore Roosevelt's fascination with the outdoors
and Berryman's chronicling of one particular hunting
adventure.
Background:
Theodore Roosevelt was the nation's twenty-sixth president.
He served from 1900 to 1909. Although he was born
in New York City, Roosevelt developed a strong affinity
for nature, the outdoors and exercising "strenuously."
One of Roosevelt's enduring legacies is conservation
and the protection of land. Throughout his life, Roosevelt
was a hunting enthusiast. During a hunt in Mississippi
in 1902, Roosevelt was unable to find a bear to shoot.
Some of his companions finally found an old sickly bear
and tied it to a tree for Roosevelt to kill. Roosevelt's
refusal to kill that bear (though he had his aides subsequently
put it down) was caricatured by Clifford K. Berryman
in a political cartoon which then spawned the teddy
bearnamed after Theodore Roosevelt.
Clifford Berryman was born in Kentucky in 1869. At
age seventeen he moved to Washington, DC and drew patent
illustrations. In 1891 he became an understudy to a
cartoonist at The Washington Post and he became
the chief cartoonist in 1896. Throughout his career,
he drew cartoons of each president from Grover Cleveland
to Harry Truman. Berryman portrayed Roosevelt refusing
to shoot a corralled bear in Drawing the Line in Mississippi,
in November 1902. Subsequently, Berryman drew teddy
bears in many of his political cartoons that featured
Roosevelt.
Materials:
Aim/Essential Question:
What does the creation of the teddy bear convey about the character of Theodore Roosevelt?
Motivation:
Ask students to respond to the question, "What
are some major issues that are important to you?"
The teacher will record student answers on the chart
paper. Ask if anyone thought the environment was
important and why or why not. Add that to the
list on the chart paper.
Objectives:
- Students will be able to analyze political cartoons
- Students will be able to identify the environment as an important concern to Theodore Roosevelt
- Students will be able to explain the advent of the idea of the teddy bear
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