Causes of the  American Revolution:  Interpreting Political Cartoons Document-Based Question

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DIRECTIONS: This task is based on the accompanying documents (1- 7).The task is designed to test your ability to work with historical documents. As you analyze the documents, take into account both the source of the document and the author's point of view. Read the historical background and look at each document to answer the questions after each document. For additional information on the topic, click on the title and the hyperlinks.

Answer questions about the meaning and intended use of a political cartoon as it relates to the American Revolution accordingly:

-Knowledge: Describe the political events, figures, and ideas in the political cartoon.

-Reasoning: Interpret the message in the political cartoon in terms of events leading to the American Revolution.

-Communication: Answer questions about the political cartoon in a way that provides evidence of knowledge and reasoning processes

Interpreting Political Cartoons:
A cartoon is a drawing, representational or symbolic, that makes a satirical, witty, or humorous point. It may or may not have a caption and may comprise more than one panel. Cartoons usually appear in periodical publications. Most frequently, their targets are in the field of political or public affairs, but they may be social customs, fashions, or sports events or personalities. (http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/side/cartoon.html)

Political Cartoon Analysis Table

TASK: Most historians agree that the American Revolution was caused by series of events and growing differences between the colonists and England. Analyze the following political cartoons to determine the causes of the war, and how the Founding Fathers used propaganda to persuade and incite the colonists to revolt against England.