Name:____________________________________ Date:_____________

AP World History

Cold War 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 reduces an entire article down to simple
pictures. Found in newspapers across the globe, political cartoons have proven to be a powerful vehicle for swaying
public opinion and criticizing or praising political figures. Indeed, a picture is worth a thousand words and for centuries
political cartoonists have used this sometimes devastating medium to cut the powerful and proud down to size.
https://www.world-affairs.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2003-Understanding-Political-Cartoons.pdf

Task: Create TWO (2) political cartoons that accurately displays the political, economic, and/or social points of view of
two of the three following regions during in the 20th century:
o United States of America
o U.S.S.R.
o A global citizen from a region outside of the USA or USSR effected by the Cold War.

Your political cartoon should depict points of view on specific topics. You can focus on, but are not limited to:
Arms race
Berlin Airlift
Berlin Blockade
Brinkmanship
Containment
Iron Curtain
Marshall Plan
NATO
Satellite Nations
Space race
Truman Doctrine
Warsaw Pact
Hot Spots (exs: Hungarian Revolts, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War)

Your political cartoons should be in color, and should be done on large poster paper.

When creating your cartoon keep in mind:

 What do you want to make the reader think or feel?
 Who is the intended audience? (Who is most likely to enjoy your cartoon?)
 Use symbols, labels, and/or individuals or captions to clearly create PERSPECTIVE (a political cartoon is not just
a picture of what happened). Perspective is shaped by a person’s character, experience, mindset, and history.
 Remember, you are being graded on your understanding of the topic and effort put in, NOT on artistic ability.
Grading Rubric
Cartoon 1

Criteria 5 4 3 1
Unique/creative Shows some Use a predictable Copies original
Political Cartoon approach; creativity; mostly approach; example; little or no
appropriate use of appropriate use of somewhat creativity shown;
symbols, captions, symbols, captions, appropriate use of borrowed symbols,
and titles; clearly and titles; show symbols, captions, captions, and titles;
shows perspective; perspective and titles; no perspective
includes title perspective is hard
to distinguish
Completely Mostly accurate Mixed information, Little accurate
accurate information some accurate, information
Accurate information illustrated; some not; may not illustrated; point of
Information- illustrated; reflects generally correct for reflect the time view unclear;
reflection the time period of the time period or period or event. generally does not
events shown; event shown. reflect time period
clearly reflects the or event.
intended point of
view.

Neatly drawn; Generally neat; 1 or Good sketch; Barely

correct spelling; 2 spelling errors; readable with few understandable;
Quality of Product main idea is generally well errors; design is lack of clarity
evident. designed with main cluttered and main related to design
ideas idea needs focusing. and main idea
understandable poorly illustrated.

Cartoon 2

Criteria 5 4 3 1
Unique/creative Shows some Use a predictable Copies original
Political Cartoon approach; creativity; mostly approach; example; little or no
appropriate use of appropriate use of somewhat creativity shown;
symbols, captions, symbols, captions, appropriate use of borrowed symbols,
and titles; clearly and titles; show symbols, captions, captions, and titles;
shows perspective; perspective and titles; no perspective
includes title perspective is hard
to distinguish
Completely Mostly accurate Mixed information, Little accurate
accurate information some accurate, information
Accurate information illustrated; some not; may not illustrated; point of
Information- illustrated; reflects generally correct for reflect the time view unclear;
reflection the time period of the time period or period or event. generally does not
events shown; event shown. reflect time period
clearly reflects the or event.
intended point of
view.

Neatly drawn; Generally neat; 1 or Good sketch; Barely

correct spelling; 2 spelling errors; readable with few understandable;
Quality of Product main idea is generally well errors; design is lack of clarity
evident. designed with main cluttered and main related to design
ideas idea needs focusing. and main idea
understandable poorly illustrated.

Total Points Earned out of 30: ______________________