The History of Political Cartoons

 The Creation of The Political Cartoon

The purpose of a political cartoon is to A: Get your own message across in a way that is visually appealing. And B:  Using the visuals to poke fun at or discredit the opposing argument. Detailed in a book titled The Political Cartoon by Charles Press; The old format of political cartooning involved etching a design into a piece of wood. A painstakingly long and tedious as well as costly process. Between the invention of the printing press then the computer. Political cartoons can be mass produced and they have become an essential part to any campaign. Now with AI the concept for cartoons can be made within a matter of seconds.

Here is an example of the old way political cartoons were made versus the new way.

Some of the earliest forms of political cartooning can date back to Europe. Satirical imagery targeting kings like Charles IX and Henri III circulated during the Wars of Religion in the late 16th century. Meanwhile in Italy, they were having their own advancements. The Carracci brothers Agostino and Annibale developed what they called caricatura: portraits that deliberately distorted or exaggerated facial features to convey mockery or criticism. Nowadays this is known by its English name caricature. 

How Political Cartoons Influenced America

National Archives Catalog Number (NAID) 6012445

“Uncle Sam - ‘He wants me to bring him in.’”

The Spanish American war redirected America’s interests from focusing solely on the Western hemisphere to focusing on the rest of the world. The cartoon was titled Tom Loose and was first shared by the Washington Post. It depicts Uncle Sam charging from the Capitol carrying a note reading “Maine Affair”. The cartoon was published on the day after a Senate resolution recognized the independence of Cuba from Spanish rule. The note refers to the explosion of the American battleship USS Maine in the harbor of Havana, an event that triggered demands for U.S. involvement in Cuba’s long-running struggle for independence.

The phrase “‘Lafayette, we are here!’” was used in countless political cartoons. In this cartoon, Berryman makes mocking use of the saying to argue for American intervention in World War II. Published on the eve of Germany’s invasion of France. Uncle Sam in the center of America is seated safely behind a border wall and surrounded by weapons and planes. Many believed America’s involvement in the war was uncalled for and only made situations worse.

The Evening Star May 22, 1940

“‘Lafayette, we are here!’”

Racism in Political Cartoons

History Hit

Nobody is Safe

Finally political cartooning was used to spread racist messages during major world events like World War II. During World War II there was an increase of anti-Japanese propaganda where they were called slurs, and depicted as people who were unable to have complex thoughts due to broken English. Historical Political Cartoons have been archived on History Hit. This is just one of the many racist caricatures that were made in our history. While Political cartoons are a useful tool to spread messages. They can be equally as harmful as they are helpful.

World War II came and went. But that is nowhere near the end of racist cartoons. The civil rights movement of the 1960s saw an increase in anti-black cartoons. This cartoon archived on The Library of Congress depicts segregation during this time period. We see a white waiter being okay with not seating a black family because “They are not American”. Political cartoons were used to further spread the messages of segregation.

The Library of Congress

"It's all right to seat them. They're not Americans"

AI was used in the collecting and summarizing of academic sources. And to show an example of how AI can create the concept of a political cartoon.

Five Star Final | Reflection

Ethical Or Not? The Million Dollar Question 

Warner Bros

Five Star Final

The 1931 film Five Star Final tackles the ethical concerns of journalism head on. Back when journalism was just entering the Penny Press era, a shift happened. Now stories were told to gain the most attention because attention equals profit. Money was the driving force behind any decisions during this time. People could become rich beyond their wildest dreams by creating Press Empires. Now they don't have to please a politician or a king. There was much more freedom when it came to journalism. But with that freedom comes more responsibility. Suddenly there are morals involved. This film tackles when profit ignores morals.

Warner Bros

Five Star Final

The film follows the New York Evening Gazette as they are desperate for their next attention grabbing headline. Head editor Joseph Randall is pushed by every person above him to revive an old twenty year cold case. He is extremely against the idea at first. He knows reviving this story will get some hypothetical blood on his hands. Little did he know, the deeper he went, there would be blood on his hands. Not wanting to lose his job, Randall caves and begins investigating this case. When the audience first meets Nancy, we see someone who seems like she could never be capable of murder. She is happily married to someone else and her daughter is getting married soon. Randall realizes that there is no reason to disturb the happy family. But with the increase of Sensationalism or “Events and topics in news stories are selected and worded to excite the greatest number of readers and viewers. This style of news reporting encourages biased or emotionally loaded impressions of events rather than journalistic objectivity, and may cause a manipulation to the truth of a story.” Randall has to go ahead with the story. 

He becomes dedicated to digging up as much dirt on Nancy he can. This is really where any morals go out the window. He sends reporter T. Vernon Isopod undercover. Isopod disguises himself as a minister who wants to officiate Jenny’s wedding. Her parents blindly trust Isopod having no idea that their world is about to come crashing down. The story goes live the night before the wedding. It exposes how Nancy got away with murder.

The story was so traumatizing it results in the double suicide of Nancy Voorhees and Michael Townsend.

Warner Bros

Five Star Final

Michael, unable to live without Nancy, kills himself after she shoots herself due to the shame that came from the story being published.

Jenny is devastated by her parents' deaths, she goes straight to the New York Evening Gazette and threatens to shoot everyone in the building. Until her new husband talks her down.

This film does an amazing job detailing the shift between journalism in the Partisan Press Era versus the Penny Press Era. While usually not this dramatic. There are real consequences when journalists play with real people’s lives like Randall did in this film. Five Star Final does not serve as a warning for what will happen when sensational journalism becomes the norm. Since 1931 sensationalism has only become worse with things like clickbait.

EOTO Reaction

My thoughts on several presentations. 

The first presentation was about CBS/NBC red and blue networks and how they could only have one. I did not have many notes on this presentation as I had entire classes where we went over this topic in great detail.

Music journalism in the 1950's and 60’s was the golden age. Go on tour with bands in the studios all behind the scenes. Brought forward social movement messages and went beyond rock and roll. 

Ida B. Wells news reporter in 1880’s freed by the emaciation proclamation. Holly springs Mississippi. Exposed white newspapers and pioneered interviewing techniques still used today. Was chased out of Memphis. I hope she gets the credit she deserves. Oftentimes women of color are ignored and their accomplishments are diminished.

Investigative journalism early history. Nellie Bly faked being mentally ill to get an inside look at insane asylums. Not political and showcases real people and events. Truth transparency and accountability. This last line is one that stuck out to me because it can be applied to many aspects of communications. 

Data-Driven Journalism modern investigative journalism method using computers and data. analyze databases to uncover information. Phillip Meyer started this with the Detroit Riots. Sarah Cohen investigates government data. Exposed problems in hurricane relief programs.

Shift in Election Night overage. It took over 200 years for election coverage to become instant. There was no election night back then due to people taking weeks to travel. 1840’s Election night. Newspapers leaned into this. Projected results onto buildings. Competition to be first. In 1952 it became televised. National Election Pool to prevent conflicting results. 

Fashion Journalism. Clothes used to show social class. Fashion plates were used to show off new trends. The original fashion magazine. Magazines reflected social changes like women entering the workforce. Expanded to television in the 1980’s by discussing celebrity outfits and trends. Blogs made it possible to share opinions without a magazine publication.

A Leading Lady in Journalism | Sarah Joshepha Hale

Sarah Joespha Hale: The Lead Editor Ahead of Her Time

 

Auguste Edouart

National Portrait Gallery

Sarah got her start in Newport, New Jersey. She was born to productive parents, Captain Gordon Buell was a an officer in the American Revolution. After marrying her mother, Martha Buell he became a tavern keeper. His work ethic rubbed off on both of his kids as they were both successful academically. With their oldest son Horatio, being a graduate of Dartmouth College, they wanted Sarah to have the same opportunities academically. So Horatio and Martha tutored Sarah, where she developed a passion for writing. At the age of twenty five Sarah married David Hale who was an attorney in Newport. He came from a family with many connections as his family helped found Dartmouth College. The couple would go on to have five children. Sarah passed down her parents wisdom and beliefs of gender equality and hard work down to her children. Despite the cultural norms of the time being that women were extensions of their husbands, Sarah was so much more. Boston National Historical Park cited her as someone whose "authority and her ideas broke down barriers for middle class women."

Her husband passed away in 1822. Despite spending her time being a wife and mother raising five children, she became a skillful writer. Shortly after David's passing she published her first official work; a collection of poems titled The Genius of Oblivion. 

While her most well known series of poems is titled, Poems of our Children featured the now timeless classic Mary Had a Little Lamb. 

She was fortunate enough to have the financial support from David's Masonic Lodge. 

She continued to perfect her craft and in 1827 she published her first abolitionist novel, Northwood: Life North and South. This book is what set her apart from other writers of her time. Challenging the social and cultural differences of the north and south and bringing awareness to the racism the country was facing at the time. An excerpt from the novel reads,

 "But to return to our Thanksgiving festival. When it shall be observed, on the same day, throughout all the states and territories, it will be a grand spectacle of moral power and human happiness, such as the world has never yet witnessed." 

HathiTrust

Ladies' Magazine v.1 (1828)

She spread the messages of unity and equality throughout her works. This caught the attention of Rev. John Lauris Blake of Boston. So mesmerized by her work, he asked her to move to Boston and become the head editor of his new magazine titled, Ladies' Magazine. This was a magazine that was the first of its kind. Something made by and for women.

"The courts of justice are exclusively under the control of the men, and it is presumed no gentleman, however low he may bow to the opinion of the ladies when expressed in society, will concede that women; have any share in the enacting of the laws, or any influence on their execution."

Hale used Ladies' Magazine to bring awareness to socio-cultural editorials and advice columns, as well as design and fashion critiques, and recipes and housekeeping advice.

She was the very first female editor, but she preferred the name "editress". Hale became the national arbiter of good taste, manners, family life, and "domestic science." She was someone who all women then and now can look up to.

Courtesy of the Quincy Historical Society.

Bunker Hill Quarry, painting by V. Campbell, based on a drawing by Draper Hill.

Her platform extended beyond writing novels. As she engaged in local civic work. In 1833 she established the Seaman's Aid Society in Boston's North End. A program that gave a voice and support to the wives of children of men who were away working at sea. Seaman's Aid Society offered job training, which allowed women to become financially independent and keep their children housed and clothed. This was not the Seaman's Aid Society's only claim to fame. In 1840, Sarah ran a sewing circle which raised 30,000 dollars. The money was put towards finishing the Bunker Hill Monument. 

The creation of this blog post featured the use of A.I platform Claude to compile a list of academic sources.

Me in 500 Words

Drea Caiola in 500 Words 

Tiago Campos

Drea with drag queens from Boston’s local scene. 

From the Du Dynasty Christmas show.

I have always has a passion for creation.

From writing, to creating characters in video games.

Any way to bring a story to life.

This passion really came to fruition when I purchased The Sims 4 in January of 2015. I started small, created myself and my friends. From there I began to imagine every possibly the character creator had to offer.

Then I began to share these creations online. Amassing around 13k followers on the social media platform Amino. 

Although this seemed like a childhood hobby I grew out of. When it came time to decide what I really wanted to do with my life. 

I realized I had this passion still buried beneath the surface. 

Really any interest I have ever had has had to do with creation. Not in the typical sense of drawing, or painting. (I would not consider myself an artist). But before Sims, it was Barbie's. my twin sister and I would come up with the craziest scenarios and act them out.

Greensboro Pride

Drea with drag performer Yvie Oddly at 

Greensboro Pride 2025

Now one of my passions is Drag. The art of creating a persona and becoming someone else is just fascinating. I have had the privilege to watch and meet many performers over these last three years.

Through this hobby I have met some amazing people on and offline. It also has strengthened the bond with my best friend Tiago as he now has someone to share his own love of Drag with.

I have also been exposed to various cultures outside of my own through Drag. I appreciate the artform all over the world and support international performers as well.

I have always been someone that is able to make friends with people from all over the world.

Even back in my Amino days I talked to girls from the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, even someone from Singapore. 

Nowadays I still have friends from all over Europe. But now I hope to meet them in person one day now that I am an adult.

Being from Framingham Massachusetts I have been surrounded by diversity.

People would describe the public school's in my city as trilingual. 

One third English, one third Spanish, and one third Portuguese. 

A Drag Queen Christmas

Drea with drag performer, and host of 

the evening, Nina West.

This introduction is all about my interests and hobbies because they define me.

Maybe a little too much according to some people.

When I was twenty I learned that I am on the Autism spectrum. Honestly it wasn't a shock to me, but it felt great to finally have it written down. I finally felt like everything I had been feeling my entire life was finally validated. 

I tended to get stuck on one topic from the time I was little.

I fixate on things.

And I still do.

I tend to ramble when I find something I am passionate about.

And when I find something, 

I go all in. 

I will attach myself to something and it will be my entire personality for months to come. 

Until it fizzles out.

But that is what makes me, me.