Cartoons Then and Now

By 1776, few political cartoons had been drawn in the colonies, but the practice of directing barbs towards the government and political parties was common in Britain. Political cartoons could be bought at bookstores as art prints and were mass-produced for distribution to political parties. They also were run in newspapers.

In America, political cartoons were almost always about conflict. Many of the colonists, but certainly not all, objected to the English domination of their lives. There was conflict among the colonists about seeking independence, and there was conflict between Britain and the colonists about creating the independent United States of America.

Today, political conflict is an accepted part of life and cartoons are used in the editorial sections of our newspapers and magazines to criticize our lives and our politics.

Cartoons are particularly biting when there are no outside threats to our country. Americans rally around the cause when there is a direct outside threat, but we are much more critical when unity is not necessary for survival. For instance, during World War II, Americans were united in the belief that the war was just and necessary, and the cartoons were fewer and less powerful. On the other hand, during the Vietnam War, the United States was strongly divided and cartoons flourished!

Before the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon, cartoonists had great fun criticizing President Bush. After 9/11 the cartoonists have turned their satire to other subjects.

Some cartoon images are so accepted that they become icons, an image that is recognized as a symbol for an important idea. The snake and the slogan "Don't Tread on Me" became an icon for the American spirit. Cartoons continue to reflect the thoughts and feelings of our times. They affect what we think and do about political and social problems. Some become icons.