1. Political Cartoons in the United States Outside of basic intelligence, there is nothing more important to a good political cartoonist than ill will. --Jules Feiffer

2. The first political cartoon appeared in Ben Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. It appeared as part of an editorial by Franklin commenting on ‘the present disunited state of the British Colonies.’ http://earlyamerica.com/early america/firsts/cartoon/

3. Editorial An editorial as defined by The Merriam- Webster Dictionary (1998) is an article (as in a newspaper) giving the views of the editors or publishers; also: an expression of opinion resembling an editorial (on television)

4. Political cartoons are a unique creation--pictorial editorial and artistic social commentary. The medium of the political cartoon, which combines the political and the artistic with journalism, provides interested persons the chance to express their social concerns or political views creatively. It allows them to make social commentary beyond the boundaries of the written word. Most political cartoons are "designed to influence viewers with regard to specific political events of the day" (Press, 14). http://www2.truman.edu/parker/research/cartoons.html

5. Political Cartoons Influence Political Symbols

6. Santa Claus January 3, 1863 Thomas Nast,

7. Santa Claus, 1865 Thomas Nast

8. Political Cartoons are often used to show opposing view points

9. War in Iraq

10. Gasoline Prices

11. Political Campaigns

12. Tobacco

13. Avian Flu Fears

14. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

15. “Pacific Chivalry” by Thomas Nast August 7, 1869

16. The Chinese Question by Thomas Nast, February, 1871

17. Nativism and the Irish Vote

18. 1889, America’s Melting Pot

19. Ready for Business, July, 1884 The Irish Question

20. 1850

21. Immigration, 21 st Century