Theodore Roosevelt and the Origin of the Teddy Bear - Historic Political Cartoon #1861924 (License: Personal Use)

This 1902 political cartoon by Clifford Berryman depicts President Theodore Roosevelt during a hunting trip in Mississippi, where he declined to shoot a tethered black bear cub-a moment widely publicized and mythologized. The scene shows Roosevelt gesturing firmly while another man holds the cub on a leash, with trees and underbrush framing the woodland setting. The caption “Drawing the Line in Mississippi” references both the hunt and Roosevelt’s principled stand, which sparked national admiration and led to the creation of the first stuffed “teddy bear.”

Used in historical articles, museum exhibits, and educational content about U.S. presidential history, early 20th-century politics, or the cultural origins of toys; matches user intent seeking historical context behind the teddy bear or Roosevelt’s public image.