How Do You Analyze a Political Cartoon?

Before research, I analyzed political cartoons by what they are showing and how it made me feel about the topic portrayed. I never had a guide to go by, but after finding one from the Library of Congress, I learned the key ideas to pay attention to: symbolism, exaggeration, labeling, analogy, and irony. In the future I will look to this guide as I analyze political cartoons. This guide helps to understand the underlying meaning of the cartoon in a way that is appealing to the audiences.

McKinley and the Philippines

This cartoon shows Spain as a deep dark place, McKinley/the US as in control of the Philippines which is shown as a young, dark-skinned, poor-looking boy, and the rest of the world as an over looker of the situation.

Cuba as suffering mother

I view this cartoon as Cuba being the grandmother of an ill or dying son as the country of Cuba with the eagle as the US in the background preying on the nearly "dead" Cuba.

Spain after loss of Philippines

This cartoon is showing the Spanish returning home after losing the Philippines. They appear to be sad or confused looking.