Lesson for High school students. This lesson provides a brief overview of the history of the U.S. while offering a brief look at the history and impact of political cartoons. Lesson allows student to work at their own pace and interest level.

1. Political cartoons offer
an interesting and often
compelling view of
American History.
This slide show will advance
automatically or you can
advance or pause any slide
when you want by using the
navigation tolls in the lower left
corner of the screen.

2. Many
cartoons
are
political
cartoons
even if the
viewer isn’t
aware that
Throughout this the artist is
presentation click on the
trying to
cartoon to get more
information about the convey a
author or artist. message.

3. You can also click on the text accompanying the cartoon to receive a
deeper explanation or more information regarding the content of the
cartoon.

4. Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die“(1754), is acknowledged as the
Dan Backer University of Virginia (Brief History of Political Cartoons)

5. This Cartoon not only
shows the hope of a
nation for a respite from
the Civil War it is also
widely considered to be
the first appearance of the
modern image of Santa
Clause.
It is also possible that
Thomas Nast
developed the mother
of Power Point by
being one of the first to
illustrate his lectures
on large sheets of
paper.

6. WWII Political Cartoon by Dr. Seuss (One month after
attack on Pearl Harbor)
Prior to the attack on
Pearl Harbor many
Americans wanted to
avoid any involvement
in WWII.
Jan 1942 A Catalogue of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss

7. Dr. Seuss cartoon panel encouraging the purchase of war bonds

8. Dr. Seuss himself states that Yertle the Turtle was modeled after the rise of Hilter.
CNN.com article October 17 1999
The original
1958 cover

9. Should people be punished or targeted b
During the Anti-Communist
scares of the late 40’s and
early 50’s even teachers and
students were targeted as a
result of assigned reading
lists.

10. This cartoon shows the
author’s views of those who
attempted to break up civil
rights demonstrations in the
late 1950’s and early
1960’s.

11. By Bill Mauldin. Published Nov. 23, 1963. (The day after
JFK was assassinated)
Many people remember
where they were when
they found out that JFK
was assassinated.
Much like later
generations remember
vividly where they were
on September 11,
2001.

12. Could this cartoon just be
ironic or could it possibly
be an indictment of the
education system at the
time?
Gary Larson (1986)

13. The Simpsons episode "Mr. Spritz Goes to Was
Krusty runs for the position of Congressman.

14. Do you think that
Vice-Presidents that
later get elected to
higher office are
viewed as merely a
continuation of the
previous President’s
policies?

15. It is likely that the author here was commenting on the Persian Gulf War of
1990 - 1991.
Calvin and Hobbes by
Bill Watterson 1992

16. In the 1988 Presidential
Election George H. W. Bush
made this statement while
accepting the Republican
nomination. Later after
instituting a rise in taxes
during his term the
statement was used to help
defeat his bid for re-election.

17. In 1994 Tobacco industries
provided testimony before
Congressional hearings.
Later it became clear that
those executives provided
false and misleading
testimony.

18. Still from South Park Episode “Something Wall-Mart Th
Scene shows results of new Wall-Mart in South Park

19. References
• 1 Backer, Dan (07/01/1996). A Brief History of Political
Cartoons. Retrieved February 21, 2008, from Uniting
Mugwumps and the Masses; Puck's role in gilded age politics
Web site: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/PUCK/part1.html
• (2003, Aug. 7). Bill Mauldin; Beyond Willie and Joe. Retrieved
February 28, 2008, from Library of Congress; Bill Mauldin
Online Tribute Web site:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/mauldin/mauldin-atwar.html
• Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man. Retrieved February
28, 2008, from The World of Benjamin Franklin Web site: http://
www.fi.edu/franklin/
• Block, Herb (2001, Nov. 9). HerbBlock's Presidents. Retrieved
February 28, 2008, from HerbBlock's History: Political Cartoons
from the Crash to the Millenium Web site: http://
www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/presidents.html
• Block, Herb (2001, Nov. 9). The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Retrieved February 28, 2008, from HerbBlock's History:
Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millenium Web site:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/presidents.html

20. References Cont.
• Groening , Matt (2008 Jan. 6 ). E Pluribus Wiggum. Retrieved February
28, 2008, from The Simpsons Episode Guide Web site: http://
www.thesimpsons.com/episode_guide/
• Larson, Gary (1986). Stay Free Daily Nov. 2006. Retrieved February 21,
2008, from Stay Free Daily Web site:
http://blog.stayfreemagazine.org/2006/11/index.html
• Minear, Richard, H (1999). A Catalogue of Political Cartoons by Dr.
Seuss. Retrieved February 21, 2008, from Dr. Seuss Goes to War Web
site: http://humor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=
humor&cdn=entertainment&tm
=9&gps=337_226_1020_599&f=20&su=p504.1.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=
• Parker & Stone, Matt & Trey (2004, Nov 3 Original airdate). Something
Wall-Mart This Way Comes. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from South
Park Episode Guide Web site:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/show/episodes/display_episode.php?epi
=809
• Pizey, Chris (04/24/1997). Calvin and Hobbes. Retrieved February 21,
2008, from Calvin and Hobbes Web site: http://
www.neophilia.de/onlinehome/calvin/
• 2- Roberts , Chuck (1999, Oct 17). Serious Seuss: Children's author as
political cartoonist. Retrieved February 28, 2008, from CNN.com Web
site: http://www.cnn.com/books/news/9910/17/dr.seuss.war/index.html