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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
D the ratification of a constitutional amendment establishing term limits for presidents
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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
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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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