Political Cartoon Documents

Objective:

Analyze and recognize bias and perspective in media literacy to have the ability to decipher
thinking by noticing differing opinions on different issues.

Classify political cartoons into categories of symbol and metaphor, visual distortion, irony,
or caricature and stereotype, argument not a slogan, or uses and misuses.

Materials Needed:

Copies of political cartoons from Political Cartoon Documents

Political Cartoon Documents

Activity: (15-20 Minutes)

Participants in their groups will be given one of the political cartoons from the Political
Cartoon Documents.

Before handing each group the Document, give the individual cartoon to the group.

Participants should study the cartoon and investigate and hypothesize what the meaning,
purpose, and bias are and which category the cartoon falls into (symbol and metaphor,
visual distortion, irony, or caricature and stereotype, argument not a slogan, or uses and
misuses).

Once the groups have established the meaning, purpose, bias, and category, the teacher
will give each group the corresponding lesson handout (attached).

The handout gives a background of the cartoon, so the participants can see if their
hypothesis was correct.

Participants will answer the questions on the corresponding analysis sheet.

Once the groups have completed the analysis, they share their findings with the whole
group.

Teacher Role:

The teacher will give instructions for each group to analyze the given political cartoon for
symbols, visual distortion, irony, caricature, argument/slogan, use and misuse, purpose,
meaning and bias.

Using the check sheet, participants will classify the given cartoon to the category from the
check sheet.

Allow for discussion and debate among group members.

The teacher will facilitate the activity answering and clarifying questions.
References

(1917) The Steam Roller., 1917. March 3 [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of
Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2001695516/.

Burack, J. (2018). Interpreting Political Cartoons in the History Classroom.

Teachinghistory.org. https://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/teaching-
guides/21733.

Gillam, B. (1883) The protectors of our industries / Gillam ; Mayer Merkel & Ottmann lith.,
N.Y. United States, 1883. N.Y.: Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, February 7.
[Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress,
https://www.loc.gov/item/94507245/.

Johnson, H. (1912). Child Labor. Wikimidia Commons. cartoon.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Child_labour_cartoon_Hine_no_2870.jpg.

Keppler, J. (1878). A picture for employers. Why they can live on 40 cents a day, and they
can't., 1878. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress,
https://www.loc.gov/item/2002720432/.

Nast, T. (1874) Colored rule in a reconstructed? state The members call each other thieves,
liars, rascals, and cowards / Th. Nast. South Carolina, 1874. Published. [Photograph]
Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/91705051/.

Nast, T. (1877) In Memorium--Our civil service as it was. United States, 1877. [Photograph]
Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/97510861/