Political Cartoons of the Gilded Age Analysis

Objective What can we learn about the Gilded Age from analyzing a variety of political cartoons? How do political cartoons help document contemporary, historical or political thought? How do I analyze a political cartoon?

Note to teachers: this presentation may be used in conjunction with this curricular resource

Political Cartoon Analysis Guide

Directions: There are many different ways to analyze political cartoons. Below is one suggested format or protocol you can use to analyze political cartoons. This protocol breaks down cartoons into four areas of analysis - visuals, words, actions, and meaning. Use the sample political cartoon below to complete your analysis.

Black smoke and oil barrels symbolic of oil, or Standard Oil, JD

US Capitol Building (home of US Congress)

White House John D. Rockefeller is identified by his shirt collar. He is holding the White House in his hand and is supposedly exclaiming “What

Cartoon Title: “The Trust Giant’s Point of View”Caption: “What a funny little government”

Visuals

List the objects or people you see in the cartoon

List the symbols you see in the cartoon

1) Did the cartoonist exaggerate any features or symbols? If so, why do you think he or she did so?

2) What do you think the people, objects, or symbols mean or stand for?

Words

List the words or phrases (ignore the help text inserted around the cartoon)

List the dates or numbers

1) Does the cartoonist use a caption? What does it say?

2) Do any of the words, phrases, dates, numbers, or caption(s) clarify any of the visual symbols? If so, how?

Action

Describe the action or actions taking place Describe the facial expressions you see on any characters

1) Do the actions clarify or further explain any of the visuals or words? If so, how?

2) Do the facial expressions clarify or further explain any of the visuals or words? If so how?

Meaning

1) What do you think the visuals, actions, and words in this cartoon convey? What is the main idea or message of this political cartoon?

2) Whose opinion or point of view is represented in this cartoon? Whose point of view is left out of this cartoon?

3) What does this political cartoon tell us about the Gilded Age and/or attitudes towards Gilded Age industrialists?

Political Cartoons of the Gilded Age Analysis

Analysis Task

What can we learn about the Gilded age from analyzing a variety of political cartoons? How do political cartoons help document contemporary, historical or political thought? How do I analyze a political cartoon?

Task: Using the protocol suggested above for analyzing political cartoons, and your knowledge of US History, please complete the following assessment:

● Every student will receive an assigned partner. ● Each pair of students will be assigned a political cartoon from the Gilded Age . ● Students are expected to analyze the cartoon and create a short presentation on their

cartoon to be delivered in front of their classmates. ○ The presentation should be delivered using a presentation tool such as

Microsoft Powerpoint, Google Slides, or Prezi presentations. At the end of the presentation, the audience should be able to answer:

■ What are the main parts of this political cartoon? ■ What is the main idea of this political cartoon? ■ What point do you think the illustrator was trying to make with his

cartoon? What was he or she trying to say about the main idea? ■ What does this political cartoon tell us about the Gilded Age and/or

attitudes towards Gilded Age industrialists?

It is not REQUIRED to use the protocol above (visuals, actions, words, meaning) in your presentation, however completing the protocol above will aide you in presenting a thorough analysis of your assigned political cartoon, so it is recommended.

Further guidelines:

● Every student pair will present their presentation in class starting on _____________ ● Presentations are expected to last at least 3 minutes● Presentations will be assigned a class date - both students must be present for their

pair’s presentation, or else the group will receive a lower assessment● If a student or pair experiences unforeseen circumstances, please speak to your

teacher! ● A rubric for this presentation is available here ● A tracker for students to record information from peer presentations is available here