If you were to analyze a political cartoon, you would first need to just look at the whole picture, and not look for detail.
Next, begin to scan over the picture and notice the main focus of the cartoon or what point the cartoonist is trying to convey.
Look for detail. Notice objects, people, and scenery/setting.
Determine the audience or bias for the cartoon. Interpret what the cartoon represents!
Finish!
Guide to Analyzing Political Cartoons
What, if any, words do you see?
What was happening when this cartoon was made?
What methods does the cartoonist use to persuade the audience?
Who? What? When? Where? Why?
Political Cartoon 1:
Taking a first look at this cartoon, you can see McKinley holding on to a Filipino child near the edge of a cliff. While the "world" looks on, the question above (What will he do?) asks will he decide to keep the Philippines or give it back to Spain. A bias is sort of implied by comparing Spain to throwing a child off a cliff, so this cartoon is trying to sway readers opinions into taking the Philippines.
Political Cartoon 2:
Looking at this cartoon, you can see a Hawaiian native, Cuban native, and Filipino native skipping side-by-side holding hands and waving American flags. With big smiles on their faces, it looks like the natives are enthralled by the fact that the United States came in. This cartoon portrays the U.S. as heroes to these people and that they are "over the moon" excited about what the United States has done to them...NOT!!
Political Cartoon 3:
In this picture, you can see dirty, savage looking children from Cuba (also P.R. and Philippines) knocking on Uncle Sam's door, which represents the U.S., to let them in. In other words, this cartoon portrays these countries as begging for the U.S. to take them over and control them and basically do with their land however they please, which we all know is not the case. This, like most political cartoons, portrays a bias that puts the U.S. on a pedestal and makes them look like international heroes who only wants the best for other people.
