Political Cartoons of the Gilded Age

Analysis

What can we learn about the Gilded Age from analyzing a variety of political cartoons? How
Objective do political cartoons help document contemporary, historical or political thought? How do I
analyze a political cartoon?

Note to teachers: this presentation may be used in conjunction with this curricular resource

Please watch the following Crash Course Video and come up with 6 Facts from the video. Please put
your fact below. https://youtu.be/Spgdy3HkcSs

1.

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Political Cartoon Analysis Guide

Directions: There are many different ways to analyze political cartoons. Below is one suggested format
or protocol you can use to analyze political cartoons. This protocol breaks down cartoons into four areas
of analysis - visuals, words, actions, and meaning. Use the sample political cartoon below to complete
your analysis.

John D. Rockefeller is identified by his shirt collar. He is holding the

White House White House in his hand and is supposedly exclaiming “What a funny
little government” (as indicated in the caption)
Black smoke and oil barrels symbolic of oil, or
Standard Oil, JD Rockefeller’s company that
amassed a major fortune at the time

Cartoon Title: “The Trust Giant’s Point of View”

US Capitol Building Caption: “What a funny little government”
(home of US Congress)

Visuals
List the objects or people you see in the cartoon List the symbols you see in the cartoon
1) Did the cartoonist exaggerate any features or symbols? If so, why do you think he or she did so?

2) What do you think the people, objects, or symbols mean or stand for?

Words
List the words or phrases (ignore the help text List the dates or numbers
inserted around the cartoon)

1) Does the cartoonist use a caption? What does it say?

2) Do any of the words, phrases, dates, numbers, or caption(s) clarify any of the visual symbols? If
so, how?

Action
Describe the action or actions taking place Describe the facial expressions you see on any
characters
1) Do the actions clarify or further explain any of the visuals or words? If so, how?

2) Do the facial expressions clarify or further explain any of the visuals or words? If so how?

Meaning

1) What do you think the visuals, actions, and words in this cartoon convey? What is the main idea or
message of this political cartoon?

2) Whose opinion or point of view is represented in this cartoon? Whose point of view is left out of
this cartoon?

3) What does this political cartoon tell us about the Gilded Age and/or attitudes towards Gilded Age
industrialists?