Political Cartoon Analysis Portfolio Political cartoons offer an interpretation and analysis of society at any given moment in history. During the summer session you will pick FOUR historical political cartoons for analysis. Each cartoon must depict a different event at the national or international level. You will be required to analyze the political cartoon based on your knowledge of what you read in the textbook, the reader, the videos, and discussion. If you need additional clarification to help you understand and identify the people and symbols used in the cartoon. For each political cartoon, you will do the following: • Copy and past the political cartoon into the portfolio. • Paste an MLA citation for the cartoon under the cartoon. • Who is the author, what is the source, date, website where you found the cartoon? • Identify the cartoon caption/title significance. • Identify the people showing in the image. • What emotions are being portrayed in the cartoon? • What actions are taking place? • Identify the symbols used in the cartoon and what they mean. • What do you think the symbols mean? • Which words or phrases in the cartoon appear to be the most significant? Why? • Do words/phrases clarify the symbols? • What is the overall message of the cartoon? • What special interest groups might agree or disagree with the cartoon’s message? Why? • What persuasive techniques are used in the cartoon? • Write 2-3 paragraphs about what the cartoon is saying and why. Tie the cartoon to its historical context. • Find a primary source (picture, letter, speech, video clip, audio clip) that is related to the cartoon. Write a paragraph describing the primary source. • Include an MLA citation for the primary source that includes the URL or link to the source. Sample Cartoon Resources Herblock’s History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/ This Library of Congress exhibit traces the development and highlights of political cartoons over the course of seventy years of American history. The Political Dr. Seuss http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/politicaldrseuss/index.html View political cartoons by Dr. Seuss and related explanations and details on this PBS site. Click the “Gallery” link to see the images. It’s No Laughing Matter: Analyzing Political Cartoons https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/political-cartoon/ The resources links from a Library of Congress learning activity, this page points to the various collections of political cartoon exhibits that the Library features in their online collection. Harp Week http://www.harpweek.com Cartoons from Harper’s Weekly, Vanity Fair, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly, Puck, and the Library of Congress Collection of American Political Prints: 1766-1876. Each cartoon is explained along the way with biographies of the figures, explanations of the issues, and campaign overviews. View the depiction of the seven presidential elections of 1860-1884 in the political cartoons and prints of the nineteenth century. FDR Cartoons http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/fdr/FDRcartoons.html Pre-New Deal http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA02/volpe/newdeal/cartoons.html Category 5 4 3 1 Identification of cartoonist techniques The essay identifies all significant techniques of the text, design and layout, and the visual angles in the cartoon The essay identifies many significant techniques of the text, design and layout, and visual angles in the cartoon. The essay identifies one or two important techniques of the text, design and layout, and visual angles in the cartoon. The essay does not adequately identify the techniques of the text, design and layout, and visual angles in the cartoon. Analysis The essay thoroughly indicates how the artist uses the techniques to communicate the message in the cartoon. The essay indicates how the artist uses many techniques to communicate the message in the cartoon. The essay indicates how the artist uses one or two techniques to communicate the message in the cartoon. The essay does not indicate how the artist uses the techniques to communicate a message. Historical relevance The essay thoroughly explains to the reader how to interpret the cartoon and how the historical period relates to material covered in class. The essay explains to the reader how to interpret the cartoon and how it relates to the historical period it is from and how it relates to material covered in class. The essay attempts to explain to the reader how to interpret the cartoon and how it relates to the historical period it is from and how it relates to class. The essay does not explain to the reader how to interpret the cartoon or demonstrate an understanding of the historical period it is from and how it relates to class. Accuracy All facts are accurate. Facts are accurate with no more than one minor error Facts are accurate with nor more than two minor errors. The cartoon analysis has at least one major error or three minor errors. Technical Qualities Sentences are smooth and clearly stated. All information is well organized and arranged logically. Sentences are usually smooth and clear. Information is well organized with no more than one minor error. Most sentences are clear and understandable. Information is well organized with no more than two minor errors. Sentences are unclear. The information is poorly organized with more than three errors. Political Cartoon Analysis Portfolio Rubric Sample New Deal Political Cartoon Analysis Citation for political cartoon: "When the Way is Dark Keep to the Main Road." FDR Project: The First 100 Days., edited by Paul Bachorz, 1996, www.nisk.k12.ny.us/fdr/fdr_100/small/33030803.GIF. Accessed 28 June 2020. People Shown: • Uncle Sam • Franklin D. Roosevelt • Russia (the hand) Symbols use and what they mean: • Fog= Great Depression or depressed economy • Swamp=Bolshevism • Road=path out of the Depression • Signposts= one shows the “right path” of former presidents; one shows the road to communism • Cliff= shows that it would be tough to climb out of the depression • Grabbing skeleton hand= represents the United States • Roosevelt with walking stick=the nation has a long hard road to recovery Explanation (2-3 paragraphs) This cartoon was created on March 8, 1933 right after Franklin Roosevelt took office. The nation was not happy with the laissez-faire policies of Herbert Hoover, which created an environment for the Depression to thrive. In response voters elected Roosevelt in the November 1932. He needed to deal with the labor unrest that dominated the country, which resulted in millions of people losing their jobs. This led to an intense fear that American workers would turn to communism like the workers in the USSR. The cartoon is encouraging FDR to remain on the Constitutional path set by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln rather than taking a radical shortcut that would endanger democracy in America. Between the election and FDR’s inauguration in March 1933, the US economy hit bottom. A short recovery too place right after the inauguration, the economy faltered and did not recover to pre-1920s levels until after World War II. Brief description and link to a related primary source: In his first inaugural address, Franklin D. Roosevelt made the famous statement that “all we have to fear is fear itself.” He blamed the Wall Street brokers and bankers for the depression and states that the national response should be to go to war on the depression. He also noted that the government should have an increased role in providing recover, relief, and reform. Moley, Raymond. "First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt." The Avalon Project First Inaugural Address of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lillian Goldman Law Library, 2008, http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/froos1.asp. Accessed 28 June 2020.