What are they and how are they used in society today?

Lisa Flicker

World History/7 th Grade Social Studies

Holcomb Bridge Middle School

POLITICAL CARTOONSLESSON AND ACTIVITIES

WHAT ARE POLITICAL CARTOONS?• Political cartoons generally are thought-provoking and strive to educate the viewer

about a current issue. They have grown extremely popular due to the straightforward way they address an issue.

• Whereas a typical newspaper article is filled with a great many words to relay information and ideas, a political cartoon found in newspapers reduces an entire article down to simple pictures.

• Found in newspapers across the globe, political cartoons have proved a powerful vehicle for swaying public opinion and criticizing or praising political figures.

• Political cartoons also entertain, often using stronger devices. They are sometimes cynical (scornful skepticism or negativity) and/or satirical (using wit to convey insults or scorn). They frequently rely on stereotypes (oversimplified opinions, conceptions or images) to address political issues.

• The ideas expressed within the cartoon reflect the views of the artist; for this reason, political cartoons commonly are referred to as editorial cartoons.

"JOIN, OR DIE" IS A WELL-KNOWN POLITICAL CARTOON, CREATED BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND FIRST PUBLISHED IN HIS PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE ON MAY 9, 1754. THE CARTOON APPEARED ALONG WITH

FRANKLIN'S EDITORIAL ABOUT THE "DISUNITED STATE" OF THE COLONIES, AND HELPED MAKE HIS POINT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF

COLONIAL UNITY. THIS CARTOON WAS USED IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR TO SYMBOLIZE THAT THE COLONIES NEEDED TO JOIN TOGETHER

WITH GREAT BRITAIN TO DEFEAT THE FRENCH AND INDIANS. IT BECAME A SYMBOL OF COLONIAL FREEDOM DURING THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

This political cartoon represents John Bull, a general personification of England, reaching his octopus tentacles out to other nations. It represents the imperialistic desires England had and succeeded in

acquiring. The artist's opinion of this cartoon seems to be that England is a bit power hungry in its quest for territorial acquisitions since Bull's face has a sort of evil grin. I enjoy the octopus aspect of the cartoon because it shows how much Britain really got all over the world and stuck there with its imperialistic tentacles.

Also featuring John Bull representing England, this cartoon depicts the grubby hands of England taking Africa for its gold fields and other resources. The author's opinion of this seems to be that rather than England's head getting too big, its hands are. Having the hands be large symbolizes the spread of land that the country got its hands on. The larger the hands, the larger the surface of the globe they cover. I like the fact that by having Bull's hands laid out the way they are, it makes it seem as though the author

intentionally had Britain grubby for African gold.

This cartoon is about global warming. The government symbol for change is an ostrich with

it's head in the ground. This means that it is trying to hide from the climate change occurring

throughout the world. The math symbol for change is different than the symbol for climate change.

This cartoon shows how much tension there was in the Cold War. Below the two Leaders, Krushev and Kennedy is a Canyon, Its showing how close we were to falling into a third World War. In

Kennedys hand is the Peace Treaty, but there are still guns pointed right at each other. The message that the artist is trying to get

across was the ridiculously closeness of a third World War. It can be in the point of View of either side, but is probably in the point of

view of neutral nations.

I included this image because it shows how powerful the USSR used to be. They were the single trap dominating the world

whereas the wars today seem insignificant to it. But it can also be interpreted to say that there are far more problems now than before. Its in the point of view of the Americans because its the

problems that they are facing.

WORLD WAR II PROPAGANDADr. Seuss is just one of a number of American cartoonists who

used his pen to elicit support for the allies in World War II.

THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT EXPLOITS ITS YOUNGJanuary 26, 1925 UnknownSeattle Post-Intelligencer

In the early 1900s, nearly 1.5 million children under 16 years of age — many under age 10 — worked in America’s factories and mines. They worked in despicable conditions, 10 to 13 hours a day, earning as little as 60 cents per day. In 1916, Congress passed the Child Labor Act, which limited working hours and

made illegal the interstate shipment of goods made by children. The United States Supreme

Court, however, declared that law unconstitutional. In 1924, Congress

submitted to the states a proposed Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution — the Child Labor Amendment — which gave Congress the authority to legislate labor conditions for

all children under 18. (Washington State) Governor Hartley claimed the amendment would “nationalize” the youth and ruin the family. The Washington State Legislature

considered the amendment in January 1925, and after a heated debate, Washington

became the 13th and decisive state to reject ratification. Cartoon “The Only Animal That

Eats Its Young”, Unknown, 1925.

1. What message do you think the cartoonist is trying to convey?

2. Why do you think he or she chose this topic?

3. Who are the main characters?4. What techniques were used

in this cartoon?5. Who would have agreed or

disagreed with this cartoon?6. This was published in January

of 1925, what was going on in that time period to have made it relevant to the time ?

LOCAL CONNECTIONSWith the help of relatives, you are being asked to

locate cartoons from the land(s) of your ancestors. You may want to divide into small groups and swap

cartoons and insights about the country of your ancestors. Are the topics depicted in the cartoons

you have found relevant to your lives today in the U.S.? Explain……