Activity for students to study the political cartoons from the American Revolution.

1. American Revolution Political Cartoons
• Key Themes:
• Symbolism
• Deeper Meaning
• Perspectives (Patriot or Loyalist?)
• Students will use a worksheet to document information, their thought
process, and their answers identifying the perspective/purpose behind
the cartoon.
• Essential Question: To what extent are political cartoons an effective
means to promote a political position or ideal?

5. Description from Source:
• Cartoon shows George III and Lord Mansfield, seated on an open
chaise drawn by two horses labeled "Obstinacy" and "Pride," about
to lead Britain into an abyss represented by the war with the
American colonies.

9. Description from Source:
• Cartoon shows "American" snake, the emblem used by Americans
as a device on their flag before the adoption of the stars and
stripes, with two of three coils around units of British soldiers,
commanded by Burgoyne and Cornwallis at time of their
surrender. Gillray is lampooning the British war effort. The verse
printed below the image reflects the widespread sympathy in
England for the American cause.

13. Description of Source:
• Print shows a woman representing "America" seated in flames
fanned from above by two men in clouds wielding British
measures, "Quebec Bill" and "Masachusets (sic) Bay", against the
colonies; four British men, representing the British Opposition,
make a feeble attempt to extinguish flames. A teapot is
overturned on steps in front of "America" spilling it's contents.

17. Description from Source:
• Print shows England as an old man with wooden leg and crutch
tugging on strings hooked onto the noses of five American men
across a divide labeled "The Atlantic Ocean"; the men resist, shoot
pellets at, and taunt old England. Includes a quote attributed to
Shakespeare, "And therefore is England maimed & forc'd to go
with a staff".

21. Description from Source:
• Cartoon shows Lord North standing on a platform holding letter
announcing successful campaign by British troops in America. A
distraught woman "America" holding a liberty cap, sits at the base
of the platform; others present react to the news.

25. Description from Source:
• Cartoon shows a group of men, including George Washington who
is standing to the right holding the tail of the zebra, and Lord
North, standing on the left gripping the reins, trying to guide the
zebra on whose stripes are the names of the thirteen colonies.

26. Image Sources
• https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/23600/23664v.jpg
• https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3g00000/3g05000/3g05200/
3g05288v.jpg
• https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/40200/40235v.jpg
• https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/50200/50288v.jpg
• https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/cph/3g00000/3g05000/3g05200/
3g05291v.jpg
• https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/10700/10751v.jpg