Bob Whalen slm521mc – Drop In #5

 

POLITICAL CARTOONS AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS

 

Introduction:

 

Have you ever wondered what the meaning is behind political cartoons?  You will have a chance to analyze political cartoons about women’s rights, and create an appropriate political cartoon.

 

 

Activity:

 

  1. There are a number of steps in analyzing a political cartoon.  Let’s first take a look at one of

Ben Franklin’s first political cartoons and go through the steps in analyzing it:

 

 

 

Step 1. List the objects or people you see in the cartoon.  (No interpretation – be as objective as possible)

                You should list:  A snake cut into 8 pieces; the initials S.C., N.C., V., M., P.A., N.J., N.Y., N.E; the words join, or die.

 

Step 2. What do the symbols in your cartoon represent?  (Look at key words, phrases, etc.)

                The initials S.C., N.C., V., N.E., stands for the 13 colonies – New England represents several colonies.  The snake represents the individual 13 colonies. 

 

Step 3.  Explain what you think is taking place in the cartoon.  (Explain key words, phrases)

                The colonies are divided into segments.  They can’t do much unless they form a union together.  A snake cut into pieces is very ineffective, as are the colonies.  The colonies need to join together for defense, or they could perish.  The time period for this cartoon was 1754 representing the Albany Plan of Union to defend the colonies against the Indians.

 

2. Go to the following site and read background information on the women suffrage movement in America. 

 

http://www.boondocksnet.com/gallery/suf_intro.html

 

3. You will be looking at two political cartoons on the women’s rights movement and comparing them.

 

Woman’s Suffrage Cartoon Number 1:

 

Go to: Two's Company, Three's a Crowd, by Chapin, St. Louis Republic, 1919

 

 http://www.boondocksnet.com/gallery/suf_190628a.html

 

Step 1. List the objects or people you see in the cartoon.  (No interpretation – be as objective as possible)

 

Step 2. What do the symbols in your cartoon represent?  (Look at key words, phrases, etc. )

 

Step 3.  Explain what you think is taking place in the cartoon.  (Explain key words, phrases)

 

 

Woman’s Suffrage Cartoon Number 2:

 

Go to: Three's a Crowd, New York Press, May 1910.

 

http://www.boondocksnet.com/gallery/suf_100500a.html

 

Step 1. List the objects or people you see in the cartoon.  (No interpretation – be as objective as possible)

 

Step 2. What do the symbols in your cartoon represent?  (Look at key words, phrases, etc. )

 

Step 3.  Explain what you think is taking place in the cartoon.  (Explain key words, phrases)

 

 

 Assignment: 

 

Compare the similarities and differences in Cartoon Number 1 and Cartoon Number 2 on women’s rights.  Use a graphic organizer for your comparison.  You may use a Venn diagram or a chart.

.

Create a political cartoon of your own involving women’s rights. 

Your cartoon should include key elements that you discovered were common to the 2 political cartoons above.   You may want to visit the following website for another example of women’s rights.

 

 The Cut Direct, Cleveland Leader, Feb. 1917 http://www.boondocksnet.com/gallery/suf_170200a.html

 

If you need more examples, you can surf the entire website for more ideas:

 

http://www.boondocksnet.com/gallery/suf_intro.html

 

Summary:

 

 What are some key messages found in women’s rights political cartoons?