Political cartoon, a drawing (often including caricature) made for the purpose of conveying editorial commentary on politics, politicians, and current events. Such cartoons play a role in the political discourse of a society that provides for freedom of speech and of the press.

The cartoonist’s purpose in this cartoon is to make people laugh at a play on words.

Political cartoons are drawings with a partisan message for viewers about what they should think or do politically. Most political cartoons are a form of journalistic comment designed to influence viewers with regard to specific political events of the day just as the editorial usually tries to do.

Why political cartoons are important Political cartoons are an integral component in the framework of political journalism. They offer a brightly coloured alternative to formal news reporting, providing light relief from the ever-increasingly gloomy political discourse.

Ways to analyze political cartoons

1. Symbolism – Simple objects, or symbols, can stand for larger concepts or ideas.
2. Exaggeration – Physical characteristics of people or things may be exaggerated to make a point.
3. Labeling – Sometimes objects or people are labeled to make it obvious what they stand for.

Join, or Die was a political cartoon and woodcut created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754. It was designed to unite the American colonies against the French and their Native allies at the start of the French and Indian War. It is thought to be the first political cartoon that advocated unification of the colonies.

Students will analyze political cartoons from online sources….Have the students analyze the political cartoon and discuss the following as a class:

1. Identify the people shown in the cartoon.
2. Identify the symbols used in the cartoon and what they mean.
3. Explain what the cartoon is saying and why.

Using political cartoons in the classroom can greatly enhance a student’s learning and understanding of specific topics. They can also help students construct their own meaning. Political cartoons are primary documents that reflect a given time period.

Not every cartoon includes all of these techniques, but most political cartoons include at least a few. Some of the techniques cartoonists use the most are symbolism, exaggeration, labeling, analogy, and irony. You should also be aware of any political slant, or bias, that he or she might have.

As children grow up, we use cartoons to show them how things function in real life, explain them more about feelings and relationships in a way they can understand. We also show them how to deal with certain situations and people. Cartoons contain some valuable life lessons.

The Purpose of Caricatures It’s a way to Enhance the basic essence of a person creating an interesting version of them with a touch of humor. This brings friends and family together for a happy engaging experience. Caricatures are best when complimentary. They’re often used in politics and/or to entertain people.

Calisphere’s primary sources include photographs, documents, newspapers, political cartoons, works of art, diaries, transcribed oral histories, advertising, and other cultural artifacts.

Photographs are a very common type of primary source. They can serve to document: events or relationships in a person’s life. the history of an organization, institution, municipality, country, or social group.

Secondary Source Documents: Political cartoons can be tricky because they can be considered either primary or secondary. Articles, books, or other documents discussing research that was not conducted by the writer(s) are secondary sources in the sciences.

In the strictest definition, primary sources are usually considered to be items like personal letters, diaries, records or other documents created during the period under study. But primary sources can also include photographs, jewelry, works of art, architecture, literature, music, clothing, and other artifacts.

Original documents (birth certificates, property deeds, trial transcripts) Official and unofficial records of organizations and government agencies. Artifacts of all kinds, such as tools, coins, clothing, furniture, etc. Audio recordings, DVDs, and video recordings.

Primary and secondary categories are often not fixed and depend on the study or research you are undertaking. For example, newspaper editorial/opinion pieces can be both primary and secondary. If exploring how an event affected people at a certain time, this type of source would be considered a primary source.

Primary sources are firsthand, contemporary accounts of events created by individuals during that period of time or several years later (such as correspondence, diaries, memoirs and personal histories). Secondary sources often use generalizations, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of primary sources.

Secondary sources diffuse light in all directions. The Moon ( that receives light from the Sun ) and planets are secondary sources that diffuse some light like cinema screen lighted by a projector.

The Sun is the major source of light for the earth.