Political cartoons offer an interesting and often compelling view of American History.

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Throughout this presentation click on the cartoon to get more information about the author or artist.

Many cartoons are political cartoons even if the viewer isn’t aware that the artist is trying to convey a message.

You can also click on the text accompanying the cartoon to receive a deeper explanation or more information regarding the content of the cartoon.

Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die“(1754), is acknowledged as the first political cartoon in America.

Dan Backer University of Virginia (Brief History of Political Cartoons)

This Cartoon not only shows the hope of a nation for a respite from the Civil War it is also widely considered to be the first appearance of the modern image of Santa Clause.

It is also possible that Thomas Nast developed the mother of Power Point by being one of the first to illustrate his lectures on large sheets of paper.

WWII Political Cartoon by Dr. Seuss (One month after attack on Pearl Harbor)

Jan 1942 A Catalogue of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss

Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor many Americans wanted to avoid any involvement in WWII.

Dr. Seuss cartoon panel encouraging the purchase of war bonds during WWII

Dr. Seuss himself states that Yertle the Turtle was modeled after the rise of Hilter. CNN.com article October 17 1999

The original 1958 cover

Should people be punished or targeted because of their possible

political views?

During the Anti-Communist scares of the late 40’s and early 50’s even teachers and students were targeted as a result of assigned reading lists.

This cartoon shows the author’s views of those who attempted to break up civil rights demonstrations in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.

By Bill Mauldin. Published Nov. 23, 1963. (The day after

JFK was assassinated)

Many people remember where they were when they found out that JFK was assassinated. Much like later generations remember vividly where they were on September 11, 2001.

Gary Larson (1986)

Could this cartoon just be ironic or could it possibly be an indictment of the education system at the time?

The Simpsons episode "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington"

Krusty runs for the position of Congressman.

Do you think that Vice-Presidents that later get elected to higher office are viewed as merely a continuation of the previous President’s policies?

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson 1992

It is likely that the author here was commenting on the Persian Gulf War of 1990 - 1991.

In the 1988 Presidential Election George H. W. Bush made this statement while accepting the Republican nomination. Later after instituting a rise in taxes during his term the statement was used to help defeat his bid for re-election.

In 1994 Tobacco industries provided testimony before Congressional hearings. Later it became clear that those executives provided false and misleading testimony.

Still from South Park Episode “Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes”

Scene shows results of new Wall-Mart in South Park

References• 1 Backer, Dan (07/01/1996). A Brief History of Political

Cartoons. Retrieved February 21, 2008, from Uniting Mugwumps and the Masses; Puck's role in gilded age politics Web site: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/PUCK/part1.html

• (2003, Aug. 7). Bill Mauldin; Beyond Willie and Joe. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from Library of Congress; Bill Mauldin Online Tribute Web site: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/mauldin/mauldin-atwar.html

• Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from The World of Benjamin Franklin Web site: http://www.fi.edu/franklin/

• Block, Herb (2001, Nov. 9). HerbBlock's Presidents. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from HerbBlock's History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millenium Web site: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/presidents.html

• Block, Herb (2001, Nov. 9). The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from HerbBlock's History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millenium Web site: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/presidents.html

References Cont.• Groening , Matt (2008 Jan. 6 ). E Pluribus Wiggum. Retrieved February

28, 2008, from The Simpsons Episode Guide Web site: http://www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/

• Larson, Gary (1986). Stay Free Daily Nov. 2006. Retrieved February 21, 2008, from Stay Free Daily Web site: http://blog.stayfreemagazine.org/2006/11/index.html

• Minear, Richard, H (1999). A Catalogue of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss. Retrieved February 21, 2008, from Dr. Seuss Goes to War Web site: http://humor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=humor&cdn=entertainment&tm=9&gps=337_226_1020_599&f=20&su=p504.1.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/

• Parker & Stone, Matt & Trey (2004, Nov 3 Original airdate). Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from South Park Episode Guide Web site: http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/episodes/display_episode.php?episodeid=809

• Pizey, Chris (04/24/1997). Calvin and Hobbes. Retrieved February 21, 2008, from Calvin and Hobbes Web site: http://www.neophilia.de/onlinehome/calvin/

• 2- Roberts , Chuck (1999, Oct 17). Serious Seuss: Children's author as political cartoonist. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from CNN.com Web site: http://www.cnn.com/books/news/9910/17/dr.seuss.war/index.html