Political Cartoons

Your Guide to Understanding

What are Political Cartoons?

Political cartoons can be very diverse, but there is a certain established style among most of them.

Most use visual metaphors and caricatures to explain complicated political situations.

This cartoon shows the bitter competition between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama

Purpose of a Political Cartoon

Their purpose is to bring across a message to people and try to make the people think the same way.

Political Cartoons sum up a current event with a humorous or emotional picture.

Style of Political Cartoons

The traditional style, involving visual metaphors, symbols.

Like Uncle Sam, the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant, and labels that describe a well known topic.

This cartoon pokes fun at the USA’s dependence on oil.

Carpetbaggers in the South

This Cartoon shows that in 1864 – a man carries a confederate flag and wars a confederate uniform.

In 1868 – the man is the same, but the banner has changed, and the hat from a CSA hat to a KKK hat.

This Cartoon shows a “Southern Belle” with a sash on that says “Reconstruction.”

The woman is carrying a large “carpet bag” and carpetbagger who is escorted by USA troops.

This shows that reconstruction was a burden on the South, and was forced on the South by the Federal Government.

This Cartoon shows a black man on the South side of the scales, and a white man on the North side of the scales.

It is to show that Whites and Blacks were to be equal after Reconstruction in the South.

Who does not look happy in the cartoon?

Why do you think?