the brains political cartoon analysis

The BRAINS that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention is an editorial cartoon wood engraving by the German-American illustrator, Thomas Nast, from 1871. The cartoons demonstrate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_M._Tweed#/media/File:Boss_Tweed,_Nast.jpg, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boss_Tweed,_Thomas_Nast.jpg, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nast#/media/File:Nast-Tammany.jpg, Cartoon Analysis: Thomas Nast Takes on Boss Tweed, 1871. Who was the artist of these political cartoons? Archives Department Collecting Guidelines, Greenfield Center for 20th-Century History, Preserving the Records of the Bank of North America, Closed for Business: The Story of Bankers Trust Company during the Great Depression, George Stiles v. Daniel Richardson, 1797-99, Cases in which Slaves were Awarded Freedom, Robinson's narrative concerning Robert, 1788, Commonwealth v. John Stokes, 1787 (Jethro & Dinah), Journal C of Station No.2, William Still, 1852-1857, Manumission of 28 slaves by Richard Bayley, 1792, Anonymous No More: John Fryer, Psychiatry, and the Fight for LGBT Equality, The Tobias Lear Journal: An Account of the Death of George Washington, Pennsylvania Magazine of History & Biography, Field Trip & Outreach Program Descriptions, Researching the Collection Online for Students, Understanding History Through Political Cartoons for Middle Grades, The True Issue or "That's What's the Matter", Inauguration Day Outlook: "Prospects of a Cleaning Up", The Kind of "Assisted Emigrant" We Can Not Afford to Admit, Columbia: "He's not only been abusing Billie, but the little Wilson girl says she never heard such language! Abraham Lincoln: 16th president of the United States (1861-65). These are people or terms that will show up in the political cartoons; therefore, they should at least know the bare minimum. Volck and Joseph Keppler penned many popular cartoons advocating social reform. 03/09/2022 14:33:57 P EST . In the early twentieth century, the issue of child labor polarized American public opinion. Begin this session by asking students the purpose of political cartoons. Boss Tweed operated with impunityuntil he got under the skin of a 30-year-old political cartoonist named Thomas Nast. Thomas Nast was an immigrant himself. Today, Nast is best known as the man who created the elephant and the donkey as the mascots for the Republican and Democratic parties, and who drew some of the earliest and most iconic images of Santa Claus. Are there any images of famous places or famous people? caricature, lampoon, and otherwise express their Begin this session by asking students the purpose of political cartoons. Many people, including Nast, saw this machine as corrupt. There is also a PowerPoint included, as well as analysis handouts with this to help guide your students through each of the 6 historical images and political cartoons . In the 1868 election, Ulysses S. Grant credited his win to the sword of Sheridan and the pencil of Nast.. cartoonists have used their skills to praise, attack, CARTOON 2: "THE 'BRAINS'" Name: _____ Date: _____ Pd: _____ P o l i t i c a l M a c h i n e s & B o s s Tw e e d : C a r t o o n A n a l y s i s Cartoon Title: " The 'BRAINS" Caption: [The Brains] "that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention" Summary: Political machine leader Boss Tweed represented as having a money-bag for a face. Since Benjamin Franklin began publishing political 0000050851 00000 n 6, one of several volunteer firefighting companies in Manhattan that were little more than street gangs with fire hoses. It was first published in Harpers Weekly on October 21, 1871, on page 992. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities. hb``Pa`` wv3F fah@SbF=^^z->] What is the role of a free press in questioning governmental actions in a constitutional republic? By the late 1850s, Tweed had ascended through a variety of local offices, including volunteer firefighter, school commissioner, member of the county board of supervisors, and street commissioner. Would $100,000 be enough? asked the lawyer. Nast recognized the man as one of Tweeds lawyers and decided to play along, says Halloran. major U.S. naval victory. When the odds were stacked heavily against Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 election, Nast published a two-page engraving called Compromise with the South that may have saved the beleaguered Republican president. Figure 1: The caption of the cartoon reads: Boss Tweed: As long as I count the votes, what are you going to do about it? Nast launched a relentless anti-corruption campaign against Tweed in the pages of Harpers Weekly. He is sometimes depicted as weak in political cartoons due to his views on maintaining neutrality rather than entering World War I. Nast drew inspiration for his cartoons from articles and editorials about Tweeds brazen corruption published in the New-York Times, a new Republican newspaper. While the content of the cartoon should be familiar to students, it should also present a puzzling or contradictory perspective that will stimulate critical inquiry. Lincolns address to Congress. what is the length of the gun bore that fires a 5 / 54 projectile. Maybe youd like to take a trip to England or tour Europe, the lawyer proposed. Class and group discussions in which students practice identifying the techniques used in political cartoons and how these techniques can help them to identify an author's message. The "brains." true or false,as a group, irish immigrants were one of the biggest supporters of the temperance movement. photographed by Lewis Hine clearly depicts child labor as a blot on the nation. After you identify the symbols in a cartoon, think about what the cartoonist means each symbol to stand for. Ask students to use the information they have learned about political cartoons to identify the author's point of view or message. William Meager Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, was the head of the Tammany Hall Democratic political machine. Now they say that Dominion Voting Systems' decision to settle . Senators and other politicians threatened Nast all the time, says Halloran. The conclusion of the French and Indian War in 1763 was followed by Britains attempt to raise revenue by excise-man.. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. Then the New-York Times finally caught up with him. Nast is often referred to as the "Father of the American Cartoon". walfredp8to49. Nast used caricature as a purposeful distortion or exaggeration of physical characteristics. Students can create their own political cartoons, making sure to incorporate a few of the artistic techniques learned in this lesson. George McClellan: A General for the North during the Civil War. exposing the corruption of Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall political machine. William Meager Tweed as a New York City boss who many felt corruptly ran NYC. $m'eU42VQTF&@"Fq,%DQC&f52f>+hiZ@ jFDo6U[Ffq',Z^f&lq $(AEbkL,LcAJ28, 89+a. Is To begin this lesson, it is important to discuss each of the vocabulary for analysis. The "brains." That achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention. From . Students will apply both factual knowledge and interpretive skills to determine the values, conflicts, and important issues reflected in political cartoons. 0000008080 00000 n Encourage them to go back and forth between the T F S L columns; there is no correct order. After students finish their independent assessment of a couple cartoons, present the findings with the class to make sure students understood. 0000049941 00000 n Tool and Guides. Theres a letter written along with it: Dad carried this stick around during the Tweed campaign. The defeat of the British warship Boxer by the American frigate Enterprise during the War of 1812 marked a 5. Political cartoons began as a street-level phenomenon. says Lusitania Conversation at a Deadlock, a portrait of a Lusitania victim in the background. Those against child labor argued In this activity, students will closely examine political cartoons about the Stamp Act; make inferences about the political, social, and economic situations depicted therein; and offer informed speculations concerning each creator&rsquo;s point of . Political cartoons, including Nasts brutal takedowns of Tweed, were pasted on the walls for everyone to see. Learn more about the different ways you can partner with the Bill of Rights Institute. More Details Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history. William Taft: President of the United States from 1909-1913. Money dominated his brain-his thinking. hello quizlet Home Common Uses of Symbolism in Political Cartoons Worksheet to provide some context on the issues the cartoon We contribute to teachers and students by providing valuable resources, tools, and experiences that promote civic engagement through a historical framework. Symbolism: Something that stands for something else. 0000003213 00000 n dire working conditions of children across the country and produced numerous reports on the issue as well as Alicia Parks, Education Intern, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. By the end of the nineteenth century, Growing equality between regions and civilizatio The accompanying leaflet provides some insight into the One common cause is a direct hit to the head. However, it can also raise interesting questions about the point of view of the cartoonist and shed light on the methods different cartoonists use to persuade their audience. bolster his anti-monopoly credentials. According to Thomas Nasts portrayal, what threat did Boss Tweed represent to constitutional principles and a healthy civil society? They then access an online activity to learn about the artistic techniques cartoonists frequently use. What role does analysis have in historical construction? a wealth of photographs. became the main proponent of the Albany Plan of Union, which proposed combining the colonies into a Nasts cartoons were so popular that his opinions helped turn public opinion against Tweed. And the most effective way to achieve that is through investing in The Bill of Rights Institute. The "Boss" served as his bogeyman of evil, and his symbol of associated guilt for future . Use the figures, symbols, and text to identify the issue at play. In his ferocious and funny caricatures, he painted Boss Tweed as a larger-than-life crook and Tammany Hall as a den of tigers. Political cartoons are an excellent way to assess the popular culture of a particular time period. Tweed and his cronies in Tammany Hallthe organization that controlled the Democratic Party and most of its votesdirected local services, controlled elections, and received millions of dollars in kickbacks, bribes, and other forms of brazen corruption. New York Public Library Digital Collections. Tweeds greed drew the attention of Thomas Nast, a cartoonist for the periodical Harpers Weekly. What evidence in the cartoon supports your opinion? Is the cartoonist using any other artistic techniques (e.g., irony or exaggeration) to express his or her opinion on an issue? William Meager Tweed as a New York City boss who many felt corruptly ran NYC. William Tweed, the "boss" of Tammany Hall, played a major role in New York City politics during the mid-1800s. B. The symbol of a bag of money in place of a head was genius on Nasts part. Known for being a very large man. Born in Germany, nine-year-old Nast and his family arrived in New York City in 1846. Thomas Nast & Tammany Hall. Ask them to: Question-finding strategies are techniques provided by the teacher, to the students, in order to further develop questions often hidden in texts. The document is an official account by one of the senior officers of the Enterprise to newspapers. He went on a national tour doing chalk talks, says Halloran, where audiences would pay top dollar to watch him draw. The perfect site for conservatives, republicans, libertarians and liberty loving Americans. What techniques, such as symbols, words, Students should analyze ways that political cartoons address recurring themes in history. It will be best for each student to be given a handout with the historical content necessary so that he or she can refer to it while observing the cartoons. 0000006533 00000 n He also dehumanized Tweed by replacing his head with a bag of money. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. The William HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Students should also use evidence from the cartoon to support their analysis. day. Getting to Know You: Developing Short Biographies to Build Community, Phonic Generalizations in Chrysanthemum, My World of Words: Building Vocabulary Lists, The Day Jimmy's Boa Taught Cause and Effect, Literary Scrapbooks Online: An Electronic Reader-Response Project, Its No Laughing Matter: Analyzing Political Cartoons, To wander and wonder: Pathways to literacy and inquiry through question-finding (Ciardiello), The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists: Cartoons for the Classroom, Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonist Index, It's No Laughing Matter: Analyzing Political Cartoons, "Propaganda Techniques in Literature and Online Political Ads". Explore our upcoming webinars, events and programs. This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. That achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention., (1871-11-04 - 1871-10-21) At this time, explain to students that there are two areas to look at when evaluating political cartoons, the subject and the artistic techniques. Tweed was convicted of corruption in 1873 and died in prison four years later (after a failed escape attempt to Spain). If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge. Students first develop critical questions about political cartoons. He believed in preserving the union first. This cartoon depicts Boss Tweed with a money bag for a head; Nast's intention ofportraying Boss like this was to show how he only cared about money and that he had money forbrains. C. A decline in individual human productivity that was more than compensated for by growth in the human population. Summary: The New York Times ran a series of stories (and cartoons!) 0000001983 00000 n Analogy: Comparison between two different things that may have similar characteristics. When hostilities broke out in 1914, marking the beginning of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson maintained Divergent questioning refers to alternative questions that lead to hypotheses instead of answers. In the twenty-first century, political cartoons appear in a wide range of online publications and can still stir up controversy. Sample Questions: In those years, William Tweed was already a minor celebrity in New York City as the burly leader of the Americus Fire Company No. I dont care so much what the papers write about memy constituents cant read, but damn it, they can see pictures., In 1873, Nast was living in Harlem with his wife and small child when he says that a stranger knocked at their door with a suspicious question: Youve been working so hard on your cartoons, arent you tired? All Rights Reserved. personify the United States today. understanding of the issues addressed by the The resources in this primary source set are intended for classroom use. Tammany Tiger LooseWhat are you going to do about it? Now, explore the Common Symbolism worksheet with students. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works. HSP has hundreds of political cartoons so if you find that you would like to use more, feel free to contact us for a full list of age appropriate cartoons for your classroom. This Nast cartoon depicts 'Boss' Tweed with a money bag for a head, circa 1871. The boss still has the reins. "The boss still has the reins. By the end, they should be able to work independently to figure out what the cartoon is depicting, using their vocabulary and common symbolism worksheets as a guide. In a short time, Nast became a huge threat to the stability of Tweeds power. And in fact, when Tweed tried to escape prosecution by fleeing to Spain, he was recognized from the cartoons Nast drew and was returned to U.S. justice. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window). This site is using cookies under cookie policy . have been there to take part in the argumentand 1. Use specific examples from the cartoons to support your answer. interesting questions about the point of view of the For example, ask them how they would use symbolism to show things in their everyday life, such as Cleaning their room, Lunchtime at school, or Snow Day, just to give a couple of topic examples. physical development. Vocabulary for Historical Context: Convergent questioning refers to questions that lead to an ultimate solution. Nast, already well-known in Republican circles, became a national celebrity after the Tweed campaign. YX(_T[xY(# Jump to: Preparation Procedure Evaluation A careful analysis of political cartoons can provide a glimpse into key moments of U.S. political history. addresses. The newspaper got its hands on a smoking gun, a secret Tammany Hall ledger detailing how Tweed and his Ring stole hand-over-fist from the city. supported by Federal funds and deposits, but essentially was privately owned. 11. a stance of neutrality for the United States. Nast created over 200 drawings of Tweed highlighting his corruptness and lack of political integrity. The "brains." ical_cartoon/model.h tml PART II: ANALYSIS OF A POLITICAL CARTOON 1. This picture displayed the body of Boss Tweed but where his head should be there is a money bag. Do you think political cartoons play the same role in questioning government today as they did in Thomas Nasts time? The increase in newspaper and magazine circulation in the 1800's provided a rich environment for the rise and use of political cartoons. His whole life, Nast didnt like hypocrisy and he had a very binary, black-and-white view of what was right and what was wrong, says Halloran. When the brain starts to slow down, it hits the other side of the inner skull. The political cartoon shows King George III bleeding profusely from the nose as he Political symbols, racial and ethnic stereotypes, personification of ideas, and caricatures of once familiar public figures abound in 19th-century political cartoons. 0000009781 00000 n How are these cartoons different from news articles? For more information visit my website www.thomasnastcartoons.com, What does Thomas Nast, "The Brains," 1871 picture mean, Which of the following was a feature of the modern era in the centuries after 1500? Irony: Words that mean that opposite of their usual meaning, for Example, a bald man named Harry. The caption, "The Brains", implies that Tweed's brains are controlled and fed by greed. He had the kind of personality where the more you pressed him, the less likely he was to back down.. Tweed died in jail in 1878, and Nast . Let us know how you used this plan and be featured on our site! Submit your story here. Nast was relentless in ridiculing Tweed, drawing over 200 images of Tweed (none of them flattering) and resulted in Tweeds cohorts (known as The Ring) trying to bribe Nast to stop drawing the pictures. As a final project, students work in small groups to analyze a political cartoon and determine whether they agree or disagree with the author's message. Another cartoon depicts Roosevelt wielding a baton labeled legalized monopoly while conducting a Analyzing Political Cartoons Modern American political cartoons have been around since the nineteenth century. 1871-11-04 - 1871-10-21. If your students have never seen some of the vocabulary words, this will probably take a little longer, yet for students who are already familiar with the terms this will work as a refresher. Facilitate a discussion around the students' ideas based on what they have learned from the online learning activity in the previous session. 0000054436 00000 n 0000007843 00000 n Apply figures of speech such as Exaggeration, Irony, Analogy, and Symbolism. For example, if a student asked, "Why did the artist make George Bush's ears so big in this cartoon? Running head incomplete. Question-finding is based on the curiosity theory of psychologist Daniel Berlyne. A. Invite students to give their class presentations, allowing the class to also comment on each cartoon's message and use of artistic techniques. Nast is often referred to as the Father of the American Cartoon. For more on Thomas Nast, please visit his short biography here. Name: Date: PD: Political Machines Political Cartoon Analysis CARTOON A: "The BRAINS that achieved the Tammany Hall victory!" Name: Date: PD: Title:The "BRAINS" that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention / Th. 0000001808 00000 n Thomas Nast is known as the Father of the American political cartoon. 0000006840 00000 n E E U C Q T OBSERVE Have students identify and note details. Then, President Andrew Jackson swiftly vetoed h[moF+P'M/mPfbJJwYR"i\ D2&E3 Explain. However, it can also raise Tweed held onto power through patronagegiving plum city jobs to loyal supporters (as commissioner of public works, he hired 12 manure inspectors)and by providing generous assistance to Irish Catholic immigrants, who repaid him with loyalty at the ballot box. Although it focuses specifically on political cartoons, some of the concepts it examines could be applied to other non-textual sources as well. If your use will be beyond a single classroom, please review the copyright %%EOF Nast depicts New York corruption as Tweed is "the brains" at the New York state convention. Evaluate the ways in which an artist uses artistic forms of figurative language (e.g., irony, symbolism, exaggeration) to persuade or manipulate the viewer. The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America. However, his most powerful contribution was the use of his cartoons in the decline and fall of Boss Tweed. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser, The Brains is one of Thomas Nasts most well-known political cartoons. Say?, Figure 2: The cartoon caption reads: The Brains that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention.. which the issues arose. This political cartoon, "Under the Thumb," was published by Thomas Nast, the scourge of Tweed and the Tammany Hall Machine. Hyman says that the museums collection includes 5,000 of Nasts engravings and sketches, and some personal items as well. Explain how their understanding of the artistic techniques used to create political cartoons helps them to understand the author's message. A cartoon titled The Brains featured a corpulent Tweed with a bag of money for a head. %9LqPBYj4bT9CmEb;K;#=r$Q+ utj69cZ)< tiJRyS{J6FhKyY,OGz@,h(n6MA%BnGPi)hYznmDrx.iQn)oR]g]@GX8M}'Z^$M?~WN_i|>{'!xbwk'_TwK-'. You can use the examples given or come up with your own as you see fit. money was all Tweed cared and thought about. The final class presentation in which students demonstrate an ability to identify the artistic techniques used in political cartoons, to interpret an author's message, and to support their interpretation with specific details from the cartoon. Jefferson Davis: President of the South (confederacy) during the Civil War from 1861-65. There are two pathways of questioning available to students. This lesson can be a launching activity for several units: a newspaper unit, a unit on writing persuasive essays, or a unit on evaluating various types of propaganda. Roosevelt is pro-monopoly. Tell students that they will be evaluating several clips of political cartoons. Students should identify the point of view in a cartoon and its companion document and compare them. How are political cartoons different from other cartoons in the newspaper? Using lines from Bombeck's newspaper column, students identify allusive or satirical humor. Jonathan Burack created a short checklist with some useful tips to keep in mind as you begin your analysis. Inference: Conclusions reached based upon reasoning and evidence. The strategies are known to assist learners with unusual or perplexing subject materials that conflict with prior knowledge. they were often posted on walls or passed from When the brains starts to move rapidly inside the skull, a concussion has taken place. To enhance your understanding of politics in the gilded age, complete the following discussion post by following the steps below. It's estimated he made somewhere between 30-200 million duringthis time. 100 0 obj <>stream expressed in a cartoon on taxation, for example, could be compared with recent perspectives. 0000002424 00000 n Townhall is the top source for conservative news, political cartoons, breaking news, election news and commentary on politics and the media culture. intense competition for readership made provocative He was a painter, illustrator and a caricaturist using his talent to make a political point with cartoons. From an early age, William Boss Tweed discovered he had a knack for politics. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/6e8fca40-dc44-0130-831f-58d385a7bbd0, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, Its No Laughing Matter: Analyzing Political Cartoons: This interactive activity has students explore the different persuasive techniques political cartoonists use and includes guidelines for analysis. 6. What might account As the leader, Tweed had this control for a long time, from the 1850s through to the 1870s. End by having students reflect in writing on what they have learned about political cartoons.

Waterloo, Iowa Obituaries, Tottenham Nightclubs 1980s, Articles T