Political Cartoons
of the American
Revolution
Why Use Political Cartoons?
 Speed in delivery of information: A
cartoon’s message is translated in an
instant.
 Humor is a compelling way to sway
people’s ideas and beliefs.
 Humor is Fun!!!!!!
What makes Political Cartoons
Effective?
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Caricature
Humor
References to events or people
Irony
Symbolic Imagery
“The Colonies Reduced.”
 The cartoon depicts Mother England, surrounded by
her amputated limbs—marked Virginia, Pennsylvania,
New York, and New England—as she contemplates
the decline of her empire.
 Franklin, who was in England representing the
colonists’ claims, arranged to have the image printed
on cards that he distributed to members of Parliament.
He hoped it would influence them to stop taxation
without representation and other British acts that
offended the colonists.
Store Front
Innocent civilians killed
“Butcher’s Hall”
Defenseless &Unarmed
Horrid, Terrible, Massacre British attacking
Unhappy sufferers, Mortally Wounded
“The Sentry”
Now it’s story time! Focus
= Perspective and Bias
(gather around my ankles like tiny squirrels)
Historical Background
of Franklin’s cartoon
 Representatives of seven colonies met in Albany to
unite the colonies in matters of defense.
 Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union,
which provided for a congress of delegates
representing all the colonies.
 England rejected it because she felt that a union of the
colonies would make them too strong.
 This was America’s first political cartoon, which
appeared in Franklin’s newspaper shortly after the
Albany Congress.
 The drawing was based on the popular superstition
that a snake that had been cut in two would come to
life if the pieces were joined before sunset.
Cow representing English commerce being milked and dehorned by
France, Spain, and the American Colonists while the British lion
sleeps (created during the American Revolutionary War).
Thomas Jefferson is a prime example
of a target for cartoonists.
1. The noose might be a general threat or a symbol
that represented the popular use of effigies in
protests.
2. THE LIBERTY TREE : a specific Elm tree used
to hang people in effigy-- also a gathering spot for
Sons of liberty
3. Although it is unclear in this image, the poster,
which hangs upside down, says “STAMP
ACT.” Hanging the sign upside down may indicate
surrender on the part of the British, since there is a
tradition that flags are hung upside down to signal
surrender.
4. This outfit identifies the participant as a sailor.
The leather apron on the man next to him identifies
him as an artisan. Why were they involved?
5. The liquid used would be distasteful and likely to
promote vomiting—possibly vinegar.
6. The official's costume is the result of TARRING
AND FEATHERING; It was a painful and
dangerous practice that covered the subject with
hot tar, rolled him in chicken feathers, and
subjected him to public ridicule.
7. The Boston Tea Party is happening in the
background
8. Liberty cap on a pole, a symbol of the American
Revolution and the SONS OF LIBERTY.
Repealing the Stamp Act
Above the Vault
 “Within this Family Vault, Lie Interred, it is to
be hoped never to rise again, The Star
Chamber Court Ship Money Excise Money
& all Imposts without Parliament…”
(translation: inside the vault lies the Stamp
Act and all unjust acts that alienate the
colonies!).
Skeleton Heads
 These show the dates of two Rebellion
Years.
 Let’s ignore 1745 (it’s a rebellion of Scots against the
British throne to restore a previous King. It failed).
 1765 is Stamp Act-- the colonists rebelled.
Why is it represented with a skeleton
head??
The Coffin
 Contains the remains of the Stamp Act as it
is being carried towards the open vault.
The Vault
 The vault has been prepared for the burial of
all unjust acts that would alienate
Englishmen.
The Men
 Leading the procession and preparing to
deliver the funeral eulogy is the Reverend
W. Scott, who is followed by the mourners:
Grenville (carrying the coffin), Bute, Bedford,
and Temple, some of the same Englishmen
who were responsible for passing the act.
The Dock
 By setting the action on a dock, the artist is
able to show the large unshipped cargoes
destined for America that accumulated
during the period when the act was in force
(because of colonists boycotting all British
goods!).
The Ships
 Ships labeled "Conway," "Rockingham," and
"Grafton" that represent the Parliamentary
leaders responsible for the repeal of the bill
now stand ready to carry the goods to
America.
The Goods
 Stamps just returned from America are also
stacked on the wharf.