Secessionists Leaving the Union - Historical Political Cartoon #3303547 (License: Personal Use)

This late 19th-century American political cartoon depicts two men sawing off a limb labeled “SECESSION” from a large tree marked “UNION,” symbolizing the fracturing of the United States during the Civil War era. One man wears brown and grips the saw; the other in blue clings precariously to the branch, highlighting the perilous consequences of disunion. The artist’s signature “T.A.” appears near the base of the trunk.

Frequently used in educational resources, museum exhibits, and history websites discussing antebellum politics, the causes of the Civil War, and visual rhetoric in 19th-century media. Matches user intent for historical analysis, classroom teaching, or primary source interpretation.