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Analyzing Political Cartoons

Political cartoons are pretty much what they sound like; cartoons that poke fun at political issues. The difficult thing about some political cartoons is that the reader has to understand the historical context in order to figure out the "punchline" of the cartoon.

Base your answers to questions 32 and 33 on thecartoon below and on your knowledge of socialstudies.

32 What is the main idea of this 1939 politicalcartoon?(1) Great Britain and France do not want the

United States to enter World War II.(2) The United States should remain isolated

from the war in Europe to preservedemocracy.

(3) The survival of democracy requires that theUnited States enter the war.

(4) The United States believes there is no realthreat to democracy.

33 Which action is most consistent with theviewpoint expressed by this cartoonist?(1) passing the Neutrality Acts (2) negotiating the Destroyers for Naval Bases

deal(3) joining the League of Nations(4) signing the Atlantic Charter

34 Consumer rationing was used during World War IIas a way to(1) increase exploration for natural resources(2) limit supplies of weapons to American allies(3) draft men into the armed forces(4) ensure that the military had essential

materials

35 The principal goal of the United Nations hasbeen to(1) develop military alliances around the world(2) encourage expansion of international trade(3) promote peaceful solutions to world problems(4) regulate the use of atomic energy

Base your answer to question 36 on the passagebelow and on your knowledge of social studies.

… I do not believe that the American people andthe Congress wish to turn a deaf ear to the appealof the Greek Government.…

As a result of these tragic conditions, amilitant minority, exploiting human want andmisery, was able to create political chaos which,until now, has made economic recoveryimpossible.…

Meanwhile, the Greek Government is unableto cope with the situation. The Greek Army issmall and poorly equipped. It needs supplies andequipment if it is to restore the authority of theGovernment throughout Greek territory.

Greece must have assistance if it is to become aself-supporting and self-respecting democracy.…

— President Harry Truman, Address to Congress,March 12, 1947

36 Congress responded to the situation described inthis passage by(1) sending combat troops to the Mediterranean

region(2) calling for creation of the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization(3) sending military and economic aid to Greece

and Turkey(4) supplying troops to a peacekeeping operation

The Only Way We Can Save Her

Source: Carey Orr, Chicago Tribune, 1939 (adapted)

War Mad Europe

U.S. Hist. & Gov’t. – Aug. ’11 [6]

Base your answers to questions 32 and 33 on thecartoon below and on your knowledge of socialstudies.

32 What is the main idea of this 1939 politicalcartoon?(1) Great Britain and France do not want the

United States to enter World War II.(2) The United States should remain isolated

from the war in Europe to preservedemocracy.

(3) The survival of democracy requires that theUnited States enter the war.

(4) The United States believes there is no realthreat to democracy.

33 Which action is most consistent with theviewpoint expressed by this cartoonist?(1) passing the Neutrality Acts (2) negotiating the Destroyers for Naval Bases

deal(3) joining the League of Nations(4) signing the Atlantic Charter

34 Consumer rationing was used during World War IIas a way to(1) increase exploration for natural resources(2) limit supplies of weapons to American allies(3) draft men into the armed forces(4) ensure that the military had essential

materials

35 The principal goal of the United Nations hasbeen to(1) develop military alliances around the world(2) encourage expansion of international trade(3) promote peaceful solutions to world problems(4) regulate the use of atomic energy

Base your answer to question 36 on the passagebelow and on your knowledge of social studies.

… I do not believe that the American people andthe Congress wish to turn a deaf ear to the appealof the Greek Government.…

As a result of these tragic conditions, amilitant minority, exploiting human want andmisery, was able to create political chaos which,until now, has made economic recoveryimpossible.…

Meanwhile, the Greek Government is unableto cope with the situation. The Greek Army issmall and poorly equipped. It needs supplies andequipment if it is to restore the authority of theGovernment throughout Greek territory.

Greece must have assistance if it is to become aself-supporting and self-respecting democracy.…

— President Harry Truman, Address to Congress,March 12, 1947

36 Congress responded to the situation described inthis passage by(1) sending combat troops to the Mediterranean

region(2) calling for creation of the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization(3) sending military and economic aid to Greece

and Turkey(4) supplying troops to a peacekeeping operation

The Only Way We Can Save Her

Source: Carey Orr, Chicago Tribune, 1939 (adapted)

War Mad Europe

U.S. Hist. & Gov’t. – Aug. ’11 [6]

Examining political cartoons from 10 years ago is a challenge for many adults even though the events happened during their lifetime. Going back 50 years, 100 years, or even 200 years is even more challenging since you need to know what is going on.

Take the example on the right. At first glance we can answer:

• What can we see? • What does the text mean? • Who are the people? • What do they represent? • What other clues can we find?

We now have to place the cartoon in historical context.

Once we have answered the questions, we can now put the pieces together:

• Uncle Sam is a symbol of the United States • Uncle Sam is standing over Democracy

almost as if he is protecting her • Across a lake/pond is Europe, which in 1939

was at war • Democracy is pleading to stay out of the war

since America is the last refuge of democracy

• Capitol Hill is in the background which is a direct way of telling Congress not to get involved in the war in Europe

®SAISD Social Studies Department Page �2

Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.

Analyzing Political Cartoons

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This satirical cartoon expresses a sentiment that eventually contributed to —

A the passage of a federal statute prohibiting foreign companies from contributing to presidential campaigns

B the issuance of a Supreme Court ruling declaring it unconstitutional for members of the same political party to serve consecutive terms as president

C the establishment of a congressional committee to investigate private presidential conduct

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The incident illustrated by this cartoon increased cynicism toward the U.S. government because —

A the press secretary failed to keep the public informed of national policy changes

B the president directed a conspiracy to mislead the nation

C the Supreme Court overruled federal statutes that defined confidentiality

D Congress failed to pass legislation enforcing protection of privacy rights

TX-EOC-USH__Release-Book-May-2013__r3__052813.indd 39 5/28/2013 3:34:22 PM

23 The Neutrality Acts passed by Congress in themid-1930s were efforts to(1) avoid mistakes that led the country into

World War I(2) create jobs for the unemployed in the military

defense industry(3) support the League of Nations efforts to stop

wars in Africa and Asia(4) help the democratic nations of Europe

against Hitler and Mussolini

Base your answer to question 24 on the cartoonbelow and on your knowledge of social studies.

24 Which factor contributed most to the situationshown in the cartoon?(1) low tariff rates(2) shortages of consumer goods(3) nonregulation of banks(4) creation of a national bank

25 The decision of the Supreme Court in Korematsuv. United States (1944) upheld the power of thepresident during wartime to(1) ban terrorists from entering the country(2) limit a group’s civil liberties(3) stop mistreatment of resident legal aliens(4) deport persons who work for enemy nations

26 Why was the United States called the “arsenal ofdemocracy” in 1940?(1) The leaders in the democratic nations of

Europe were educated in the United States.(2) Most of the battles to defend worldwide

democracy took place on American soil.(3) The United States supervised elections in

European nations before the war.(4) The United States provided much of the

weaponry needed to fight the Axis powers.

27 Shortly after entering World War II, the UnitedStates began the Manhattan Project to(1) work on the development of an atomic bomb(2) increase economic production to meet

wartime demands(3) defend New York City against a nuclear

attack(4) recruit men for the military services

28 The experiences of African Americans serving inthe military forces during World War IIinfluenced their postwar decision to(1) renew support for the principle of separate

but equal(2) join the armed forces in record numbers(3) increase efforts to end racial discrimination(4) move back to the rural south

29 The main foreign policy objective of the MarshallPlan (1948–1952) was to(1) stop communist aggression in Korea(2) fight poverty in Latin America(3) rebuild the economies of European nations(4) provide jobs for unemployed Americans

30 During the Korean War, President Harry Trumanremoved General Douglas MacArthur fromcommand because MacArthur (1) called for an immediate end to the war(2) refused to serve under the United Nations(3) lacked the experience to provide wartime

leadership(4) threatened the constitutional principle of

civilian control of the military

U.S. Hist. & Gov’t.–Aug. ’04 [5] [OVER]

Source: Chicago Tribune, August 19, 1931(adapted)

A Wise Economist Asks a Question

Base your answer to question 31 on the cartoonbelow and on your knowledge of social studies.

31 The United States carried out the idea expressedin this late 1940s cartoon by(1) forming a military alliance with Russia(2) airlifting supplies to West Berlin(3) accepting Russian authority over West Berlin(4) agreeing to turn over control of Berlin to the

United Nations

32 What was a result of the takeover of Cuba byFidel Castro?(1) Relations between the Soviet Union and

Cuba worsened.(2) Many Cuban Americans returned to their

homeland.(3) Trade between the United States and Cuba

increased.(4) Many people fled from Cuba to the United

States.

Base your answer to question 33 on the passagebelow and on your knowledge of social studies.

“. . . I was disappointed not to see what is insideCentral High School. I don’t understand why thegovernor [of Arkansas] sent grown-up soldiers tokeep us out. I don’t know if I should go back. ButGrandma is right, if I don’t go back, they will thinkthey have won. They will think they can usesoldiers to frighten us, and we’ll always have toobey them. They’ll always be in charge if I don’tgo back to Central and make the integrationhappen. . . .”

— Melba Beals, Warriors Don’t Cry, an African American student, 1957

33 President Dwight D. Eisenhower reacted to thesituation described in this passage by(1) forcing the governor of Arkansas to resign(2) allowing the people of Arkansas to resolve the

problem(3) asking the Supreme Court to speed up racial

integration(4) sending federal troops to enforce integration

34 In 1965, Congress established Medicare to(1) provide health care to the elderly(2) assist foreign nations with their health

problems(3) grant scholarships to medical students(4) establish universal health care

35 The Supreme Court decisions in Mapp v. Ohio,Gideon v. Wainright, and Miranda v. Arizona allexpanded(1) integration of public facilities(2) rights of the accused(3) presidential powers(4) equality in the workplace

36 The main purpose of the War Powers Act of 1973was to(1) expand the power of Congress to declare war(2) limit the president’s ability to send troops into

combat abroad(3) allow people to vote on the issue of United

States commitments overseas(4) end the Vietnam War on favorable terms

U.S. Hist. & Gov’t.–Aug. ’04 [6]

No Pushover

Source: Fred O. Seibel, Richmond Times-Dispatch

No matter how the political cartoon appears and whether it is talking about an event, a nation or national leaders; political cartoons express bias, point of view, and historical

context. The trick is figuring out when it was drawn and what the cartoon is about.

The tape reels and date point to Nixon and Watergate.

The dates and caricature of FDR point to his 4 terms.

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