Political Cartoons
Florida Gubernatorial Election 2014
The Purpose of Political Cartoons
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Cartoonist is giving his/her
opinion on a political or other
newsworthy issue in a
(usually) humorous pictorial
fashion.
Viewer is expected to have
previous content knowledge to
understand the meaning of
the cartoon.
Found in newspaper editorial
pages and online
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www.cagle.com
www.politicalcartoons.com
“Join, or Die” by Benjamin Franklin
To encourage the colonies to unite
during the French and Indian War.
Parts of Political Cartoons
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Caricature:
a portrait that exaggerates
parts of a person (ears, height, etc.)
 creates an easily identifiable
visual likeness
 usually funny
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Parts of Political Cartoons
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Symbol: something -- such
as an object, picture,
written word, or sound-that represents (or stands
for) something else.
For example
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a red octagon is the symbol
that means "STOP".
Uncle Sam & Lady Liberty
symbolizes the USA
Symbols of Political Parties
 The Democratic donkey was first used with Democrat Andrew
Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign.
 His opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson
decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his
campaign posters.
 Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in
newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.
 Nast invented another famous symbol—the Republican
elephant.
 After the Republicans lost the White House to the Democrats in
1877, Nast drew a cartoon of an elephant walking into a trap set
by a donkey.
 He chose the elephant to represent the Republicans because
elephants are intelligent but easily controlled.
Democrats today say the donkey is smart and brave, while
Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified.
Symbols & Labels of Political Parties
Democrats
Republicans
Donkey
Blue
Left
Liberal
Dems
D
Elephant
Red
Right
Conservative
GOP
R
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For the next cartoon, describe
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Symbols and meanings
Important terms and meaning
What is the message of the cartoon?
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For the next cartoon, describe
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
Symbols and meanings
Important terms and meaning
What is the message of the cartoon?