Key Takeaways
- Political cartoons appear regularly as both DBQ documents and MCQ stimulus sources — the same decoding skill applies to both.
- A 5-step method (labels → symbols → exaggeration/tone → target → argument) turns a cartoon into real analysis, not just description.
- Tone is the fastest tell: mockery and exaggeration almost always signal criticism, not support.
Why It's Different
A Cartoon Argues Through Symbols, Not Sentences
A text document states its argument directly, even if you have to read carefully to find it. A political cartoon almost never does -- its argument is encoded in visual choices: who's drawn how, what objects represent what, and what the artist chose to exaggerate. Reading a cartoon well means decoding those choices, not just describing what's on the page.
This connects directly to the sourcing skill covered in the Historical Thinking Skills glossary -- point of view and purpose are still what you're after, just expressed through imagery instead of prose.
The 5-Step Method
Step 1 — Read the labels first
Captions, speech bubbles, and labels on objects or figures are the cartoon's most direct clues. Don't skip straight to interpreting the imagery -- read every piece of text in the image first.
Step 2 — Identify what each symbol represents
An eagle usually represents the nation; an octopus or snake with many arms/heads usually represents an entity seen as greedy or overreaching (trusts, monopolies); a fat figure in a suit usually represents corrupt wealth or big business.
Step 3 — Read the tone
Exaggeration, mockery, and unflattering caricature (bloated bodies, sneering faces, absurd proportions) almost always signal criticism. Heroic, protective, or dignified portrayals signal support or approval.
Step 4 — Name the target
Who or what is the cartoon actually criticizing or defending? Be specific -- not "the government," but the exact policy, party, individual, or institution the imagery points at.
Step 5 — State the argument in a full sentence
Combine steps 1-4 into one sentence: what is this cartoon arguing, and how do the symbols support that claim? That sentence is your actual analysis -- everything before it was just observation.
Worked Example
Thomas Nast's Boss Tweed Cartoons (1870s)
Thomas Nast's famous Harper's Weekly cartoons attacking William "Boss" Tweed and Tammany Hall are a real, frequently-referenced APUSH example (Period 6). Nast drew Tweed as a bloated, well-dressed figure -- in one famous cartoon, his head is replaced with a moneybag; in another, Tammany is shown as a hungry tiger devouring the ballot box.
Description only (doesn't earn credit)
"The cartoon shows a large man in a suit with a moneybag for a head, standing near a tiger."
Full analysis (earns credit)
"Nast's decision to replace Tweed's head with a moneybag argues that Tammany Hall's leadership was driven entirely by greed rather than public service; the exaggerated, bloated figure mocks Tweed's corruption, while the tiger devouring the ballot box specifically targets Tammany's practice of controlling elections through fraud, making the cartoon's overall argument that machine politics had replaced genuine democracy with organized theft."
Notice the second version never just describes an image -- every visual detail is immediately tied to what it means. See the DBQ Outside Evidence guide if you need a specific fact to pair with a cartoon like this one.
Where This Fits in Your Score
On the DBQ, a well-analyzed political cartoon can earn a sourcing point on the DBQ Rubric just like any text document. On the MCQ, the same skill applies to stimulus-based question sets built around a cartoon. The same visual-source discipline also applies to charts, graphs, and maps on the SAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a political cartoon is criticizing or supporting something?
Check the tone first. Mockery, exaggeration, and unflattering caricature (a bloated figure, a monstrous animal, a sneering expression) almost always signal criticism. A cartoon that shows its subject heroically, protecting or rescuing someone, is more likely expressing support or approval.
Do political cartoons show up on the APUSH MCQ, not just the DBQ?
Yes. Political cartoons regularly appear as the stimulus for a set of 3-4 multiple-choice questions, not just as DBQ documents. The same decoding method applies either way -- you're just answering questions about it instead of using it as essay evidence.
What is the most common mistake when analyzing a political cartoon?
Describing what's literally drawn instead of explaining what it argues. Writing "the cartoon shows a large octopus" is a description; writing "the octopus represents monopolistic trusts strangling smaller businesses and consumers" is an analysis. Only the second earns credit.
A Note on This Page
The worked example describes a well-documented historical cartoon type but is a general illustration of the technique, not a reproduction of any specific released exam question. Always practice with official released materials, available via AP Central.
About the Author
This page and the APUSH score calculator are created and maintained by Rohit Chauhan, focused on turning complex AP scoring rules into clear, practical strategies for students.
Last updated: September 2026 • Have suggestions or corrections? Visit our Contact Us page.