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McCarthy and Political Cartoons
Goal: Students will recognize cartoons as a medium for expressing political opinions through the use of symbols and captions.
Objectives:
1) Students will analyze an anti-McCarthy political cartoon that appeared in the
2) Students will record the people and objects present in the cartoon.
3) Students will cite any wording used in the cartoon.
4) Students will identify objects in the cartoon that might serve as symbols and speculate as to their meanings.
5) Students will explain their interpretation of words or phrases included in the cartoon and connect the words/phrases with the symbols.
6) Students will create a list of adjectives that describe the emotions portrayed in the cartoon.
7) Students will describe the action taking place in the cartoon.
8) Students will speculate about which groups would agree with and disagree with the cartoon’s message.
9) Students will create their own political cartoon either supporting or criticizing McCarthy and incorporating symbolism.
Study the political cartoon taken from the Wisconsin CIO News-Magazine.
1) List the objects or people you see in the cartoon.
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People |
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2) Identify the cartoon caption or title.
3) Name two phrases used to identify objects or people in the cartoon.
4) Do you see any objects in the cartoon that might serve as symbols? If so, what are they and what might they stand for?
5) Which words or phrases in the cartoon appear to be the most significant? Why do you think so?
6) List adjectives that describe the emotions portrayed in the cartoon.
7) Describe the action taking place in the cartoon.
8) Explain how the words in the cartoon clarify the symbols.
9) Explain the cartoon’s message.
10) What groups would agree with the cartoon’s message? Why? Which groups would disagree? Why?
11) Using the knowledge you have gained from the previous activities about McCarthy and his methods, draw your own political cartoon expressing support for or criticizing his methods. First, you might think of symbols that can help you express some important ideas. For example: Communism might be shown as an “iron curtain”, spies might be shown by a figure listening at a door, McCarthy might be depicted as a bully. Some people said he hid behind “Senatorial immunity” – the fact that he could say whatever he wanted on the Senate floor, regardless of its truth. You might depict McCarthy hiding behind a wall or a curtain or a pillar as in this cartoon. You can use words to identify your symbols for your audience.
Political Cartoon "Afraid to come out, Joe?" from Wisconsin CIO News-Magazine, circa 1952.
