Editorial Cartoons

In this section you will be tasked with analyzing and interpreting three political cartoons about FDR and The New Deal. Once you have finished analyzing the cartoons, you will answer the questions below to further your understanding. While you are working, make sure to keep in mind the essential question was the New Deal prosperous and successful to all? 

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To get America out of the Depression, Roosevelt moves away from laissez-faire and uses more presidential power than previous presidents had before. Joseph Parrish illustrates President Roosevelt’s need for more power in this illustration in the Chicago Tribune. 1937.

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  1. What type of document is this?
  2. Who is being pictured with the bowl of power?
  3. How could we interpret the different size of men in this picture?
  4. What is the tone of this picture?
  5. How does this relate to the New Deal?
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The author is unknown, but this political cartoon is from the Mudd Manuscript Library, Political Cartoon Collection. In this cartoon the author is illustrating that Roosevelt’s actions were unconstitutional.

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  1. What type of document is this?
  2. Why is the man pictured with a crown on his head?
  3. Who is the man in the photograph supposed to be?
  4. What is significant about what he wrote on the Constitution?
  5. What is the tone of this photograph?
  6. How does this relate to the New Deal?
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In this cartoon in 1932, illustrator Orr, is depicting the everyday american taxpayer begging the government to save money, but the “echo” from the government is saying to spend. Orr shows the difference in opinion between the government and the everyday american taxpayer.

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  1. What type of document is this?
  2. Why is the man yelling “Save, Save, Save?”
  3. Why is the Government echoing “Spend, Spend, Spend?”
  4. What is significant bout the other words that can be found in the photograph?
  5. What is the tone of this photograph?
  6. How does this relate to the New Deal?