Political cartoons have provided powerful editorial commentary about all aspects of current events throughout modern history. The Great Depression was no exception and there is a wealth of political cartoons from this era giving us great insight into this period in history. With this activity, you will explore political cartoons and then create your own to highlight an event, issue, or topic from The Great Depression while interpreting the complexity of the past.
Step 1: View the following political cartoons from The Great Depression. Consider the context and the message of what the artist is saying. Observe the date of each cartoon and take into consideration what else was happening at that time. What kinds of symbols are used to represent different aspects of the artist’s message?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 18 Dec. 1930. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1930-12-18/ed-1/seq-1/>
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.), 19 Feb. 1932. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025812/1932-02-19/ed-1/seq-3/>
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.), 12 Feb. 1932. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025812/1932-02-12/ed-1/seq-8/>
Step 2: Choose one event, topic, or issue from The Great Depression from between the years 1929 and 1932 and create your own political cartoon. You can create your political cartoon on paper or digitally with programs such as PowerPoint, Google Slides or Draw, and Canva.
Your cartoon should:
- include the date,
- include symbols that represent different aspects of your topic,
- show a clear point of view
For additional insight into political cartoons, read the article The Cartoon by Herbert Block. Herbert Block, also known as Herblock, was a famous three time Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for much of the 20th Century. Use the “sections” buttons to explore some of his work.
Step 3: Write one significant paragraph (200 words) explaining your cartoon. Include the following in your response:
- What is the context of your cartoon?
- What information must your viewer know to understand your message?
- What is the point of view—what is your cartoon saying and why?
- Explain the symbols you have used and their significance.
Assignment Grading Rubric
| Criteria | Poor | Good | Excellent | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historical Accuracy and Context | The cartoon and description do not show historical context or are inaccurate. | The cartoon and description show some historical context and some understanding of the chosen event, issue, or topic. | The cartoon and description demonstrate a clear understanding of context and is historically accurate. | ___/10 |
| Political Cartoon | The cartoon does not include a date, any symbols to represent events, issues, or topics, and does not show a clear point of view or opinion. | The cartoon includes some symbols or the symbols chosen are unclear. The point of view is limited. | The cartoon has a clear date, symbols that represent events, issues, and/or topics, and the point of view sends a clear message. | ___/5 |
| Cartoon Description | The description of the cartoon does not include or address context, explanation of point of view or symbols. | The description of the cartoon mostly addresses context and explanations of point of view and symbols is addressed briefly. | The description of the cartoon clearly addresses context in detail providing thorough explanations of the point of view and symbols used. | ___/5 |
| Total | ___/20 |