Political Cartoons as Primary Sources

Sources (All cartoons from http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/BushKerry2/1.asp)

Kerry 1	Kerry 2	Kerry3	Kerry 4	Kerry 5
Bush 1	Bush 2	Bush 3	Bush 4	Bush 5
Bush/Kerry 1	Bush/Kerry 2	Bush/Kerry 3	Bush/Kerry 4	Bush/Kerry 5

Possible Activity Outline

• Describe the elements in the cartoon you are viewing.
• What issue is this political cartoon about?
• What is the cartoonist’s opinion on this issue?
• What techniques does the cartoonist use to communicate his opinion?

Other Resources

• Document Analysis Worksheets, from the National Archives. Ready-to-use worksheets for analyzing cartoons, photographs, written documents, maps, posters, artifacts, recordings, and motion pictures.
• Women's Suffrage cartoon, from Picturing Modern America. This Web site walks you through the process of 1) asking a question 2) gathering clues from the artifact, and 3) drawing a conclusion. .
• Cartoon Analysis Guide: It's No Laughing Matter, from the Library of Congress American Memory Collection, is an interactive site that introduces symbolism, exaggeration, labeling, analogy, and irony in political cartoons. Test your knowledge with several cartoon examples. (Tip: Do the Test Yourself as a whole class activity, forcing discussion on where to drag and drop the answers.)
• Slate magazine collection of political cartoons. More political cartoons than you can shake a stick at, on a wide range of issues..

Reading Graphics as Primary Sources

Sources

February 09, 2004	February 16, 2004	May 24, 2004
August 19, 2004	September 06, 2004	October 18, 2004

 

Possible Questions for Investigation

• Describe the cover:

  • What words are used?

  • Describe the faces and body language of the people on the cover. What are they doing?

  • How is color used?

  • Are there any objects or symbols on the cover?

• What is the overall feeling of the cover?

• How do the details you noticed contribute to this feeling?

• Is there a particular message you think this cover is trying to convey?

• Document Analysis Worksheets, from the National Archives. Ready-to-use worksheets for analyzing cartoons, photographs, written documents, maps, posters, artifacts, recordings, and motion pictures.

Reading Text Sources as Primary Sources

Sources

• 19th. Amendment

• 2000 Presidential Election Popular Vote & Popular Vote Totals

• Bush Inauguration

• Washington Photo

• Oath of Office

• "Hail to the Chief" Lyrics

• Presidential Ballot

• 2000 Election Results, by State

Resources

Document Analysis Worksheets, from the National Archives. Ready-to-use worksheets for analyzing cartoons, photographs, written documents, maps, posters, artifacts, recordings, and motion pictures.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pihtml/pihome.html

Link to inaugurations site by the library of congress.  I includes video of prior inaugurations and documents including Washington and Lincoln.

http://www.thebeehive.org/news/candidates-forum.asp

Link to simple page covering election issues.

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/election/electoral.html

EXCELLENT kids page sponsored by the government.  Explains electoral college, with EXCELLENT electoral college calculator.  Students can tabulate votes to see how the election will be decided.

http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/

excellent links – and EXCELLENT teacher resources page with lessons and documents.