Activity 3.8 - Political Cartoon

In the cartoon above, Abraham Lincoln battles with Confederate President Jefferson Davis while Democratic Presidential Candidate General George McClellan mediates prior to the 1864 Presidential Election. Lincoln is saying “No peace without Abolition!” While Davis is saying “No peace without Separation!” Meanwhile, McClellan is drawn as the moderate focusing on the preservation of the Union.

Political cartoons can often portray a message better than any words. View a few examples of political cartoons to get a feel for how they are constructed and what messages are being delivered. For Activity 3.8, draw a political cartoon analyzing, or digging deeper into, the elections process in Minnesota. You can use the glossary and Lesson 3.8 to help you get ideas, but you may need to seek outside help from a teacher or the web. Here is a list of possible topics to satirize in the form of a political cartoon:

• Plurality voting
• Long elections cycle
• Caucus system outdated
• Primary system too simple
• Uninformed voters
• Politicians not sticking to principle, chasing votes
• Any president or governor post-midterm election, either big win or loss
• Instant Runoff promoting too much confusion

The list above is a start, and you are encouraged to think of other issues related to the impact the elections process has on the political system as a whole.

When your cartoon is complete, upload it (or a picture of it.)