1. Analyzing
Political Cartoons

2. Analyzing Political Cartoons

3. What Are Political Cartoons?
Political cartoons are an art form that serves as a window into history by showing us what people were thinking and talking about at a given time and place.
Today’s editorial cartoons will provide the same record of our own time.

4. Uses of Political Cartoons
Presents a particular viewpoint on political, economic, or social issues
Make use of humor, symbolism, historical events, and stereotypes to draw attention to an idea, event, or person
Stimulates debate on an issue

5. How To Read Them?

6. How To Read Them?
Artist’s viewpoint:

7. How To Read Them? Artist’s viewpoint:
What subject or issue is the artist
commenting on?

8. How To Read Them? Artist’s viewpoint: Captions
What subject or issue is the artist
commenting on?
Captions

9. How To Read Them? Artist’s viewpoint: Captions
What subject or issue is the artist
commenting on?
Captions
What language do the artist use?

10. How To Read Them? Artist’s viewpoint: Captions
What subject or issue is the artist
commenting on?
Captions
What language do the artist use?
Symbols, Humor, and Satire

11. How To Read Them? Artist’s viewpoint: Captions
What subject or issue is the artist
commenting on?
Captions
What language do the artist use?
Symbols, Humor, and Satire
What do you see in the cartoon? What feelings are suggested by the image?

12. How To Read Them? Artist’s viewpoint: Captions
What subject or issue is the artist
commenting on?
Captions
What language do the artist use?
Symbols, Humor, and Satire
What do you see in the cartoon? What feelings are suggested by the image?
Historical Images

13. How To Read Them? Artist’s viewpoint: Captions
What subject or issue is the artist
commenting on?
Captions
What language do the artist use?
Symbols, Humor, and Satire
What do you see in the cartoon? What feelings are suggested by the image?
Historical Images
Recognizing the historical or literary images is necessary to understand the meaning of the cartoon

14. America’s First Political Cartoon?

15. America’s First Political Cartoon?
It's important to note that America's earliest cartoons were political in nature. The first cartoon appeared in Ben Franklin’s newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette, on May 9, 1754.

17. The woodcut drawing entitled “Join or Die” pictures a divided snake in eight pieces representing as many colonial governments. The drawing was based on the popular superstition that a snake that had been cut in two would come to life if the pieces were joined before sunset. The drawing resonated among the public and was reproduced in other newspapers.