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Learning With Lincoln Institute

Political Cartoons: What Influence Do They Have?

by Marie Foiles

Download a copy of this Learning Experience

Students will explore and analyze primary source political cartoons pertaining to Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush. They will compare similarities and differences between the presidents. Students will also explore how the public has been influenced by political cartoons. As a culminating event students will be given a choice of three activities.

Overview

Subject:
U.S. History
Time Required:
Five 50 minute class periods.
Grade Range:
9 - 12
Understanding Goal:
Primary source political cartoons provide students an opportunity to explore how political cartoons were used in the past to influence public opinions and are still being used to influence public opinion today.
Investigative or Essential Question:
How can primary sources help us define the role political cartoons play in forming public opinion of political leaders both in the past and present?

Materials

Purpose of Library of Congress Items:
Primary source cartoons are an excellent resource in facilitating student exploration and analysis of the role political cartoons play in shaping public opinion. Also the cartoon analysis activity at LOC is a step by step guide that prepares students to give an in depth analysis of a variety of cartoons.
Library of Congress Items:
Bibliographical Information can be found in the PDF of this Learning Experience.
 
  • I am glad, I am out of the scrape!
  • 'The nigger' in the woodpile
  • The Commander-in-Chief conciliating the soldier's votes on the battle field
Additional Materials:
Required Vocabulary:
Analyze, stereotyping, exaggeration, media, caricature, analogy, symbolism, irony, bias, political cartoon, primary source
Prior Content Knowledge:
In addition to knowledge of how to analyze primary sources being used, the students will need background knowledge of Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush (For example, dates of presidency, their personal and presidential life, their contribution to the United States, etc.). Students will also need to know how to use the Library of Congress (LOC) website.
Technology Skills:
Students must be able to access the internet. Students will need to know how to use a word processing program such as Microsoft Word. Students will also need to know how to create a slide presentation using power point.

Standards

Illinois Learning Standards:
16, 16A2c
 
For information on specific Illinois Learning Standards go to www.isbe.state.il.us/ils/

Actions

Description of Teacher Actions:
Build Prior Knowledge (Anticipatory Set)

Start with brainstorming activity (Lincoln then Bush) making sure students have background knowledge before this lesson. What do we know about Lincoln? Answers should include: President during the Civil War, Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, ETC. Keep this for later when you are doing a comparison of the two presidents.

Zoom In Activity of Cartoon, “Nigger In The Woodpile” (PowerPoint file)

  • Discuss what was happening at the time this cartoon was made.
  • Discuss appropriateness of language (“nigger”).
  • Discuss how language has changed over the years: negro, coloreds, blacks, African Americans.
 
Model Learning
  1. On LCD projector, display “It’s No Laughing Matter”, an online lesson from LOC on analyzing political cartoons.
  2. As a whole class, complete the learning activity and fill out the cartoon analysis worksheet.
  3. Give each student a copy of the cartoon in the Zoom In activity.
    • As an out of class assignment, have students fill out analysis worksheet.

Next-

  1. Go over cartoon analysis to check for understanding of the process.
  2. Discuss the cartoon. If students are confident of their ability to analyze cartoons go on. If they are still having difficulties, spend another class period analyzing cartoons.
  3. Acquaint students with LOC and primary source cartoons.
  4. Have students go online and investigate the resources available in the cartoon collection found in LOC’s Prints & Photographs Online catalog.
 
Student Investigative Activity
  1. Display Lincoln cartoon on projector. As a group, use analysis guide to analyze the cartoon and fill in worksheet.
  2. Brainstorm what students know about President George Bush.
  3. Go to the website with cartoons containing President George Bush.
  4. Then analyze the cartoon using a cartoon analysis guide. Find a President Bush cartoon online at: Bring Em On (MSNBC)
  5. Compare the two cartoons and discuss how cartoons have influenced thinking.
  6. Use a Venn diagram and compare what we know about President Lincoln and what we know about President Bush.
    • Answers could reflect how they became presidents, their challenges/accomplishments during presidency, serving during wartime, military careers, etc."
 
Assessment / Evaluation
  1. After completing a venn diagram give students a choice of one of three culminating activities.
    • Write a comparison paper using the information that we have gathered.
    • Create a power point presentation.
    • Design and analyze their own political cartoon.
  2. Go over grading rubrics.
  3. Evaluate culminating activity, classroom participation, an individual cartoon analysis using rubrics.
Best Instructional Practices:

Teaching for Understanding

Incorporating a modeling activity on how to analyze political cartoons increases student success in analyzing their own cartoon.

Literacy Instruction/Reading Comprehension

All final products includes student writing to show understanding of the topic under study.

Differentiated Instruction

Allowing students to choose one of three different levels of culminating activities allows for differentiation of product.

Technology Integration

Students increase their information literacy skills by searching websites for relevant information to complete their assignments. Student products also include the use of technology.