In this lesson, you will focus on political cartoons. Over the years, such cartoons have had a significant impact on American thought.

After reading the material on the following web sites, students were asked to draw an editorial cartoon concerning a nineteenth-century constitutional issue.

• Brief History of Political Cartoons

• The First Political Cartoons

• A Catalog of Political Cartoons by Dr. Seuss

Thomas Nast was a brilliant cartoonist who serves as a link between political cartoons of early American and contemporary political cartoons. His work also shows the power of cartoonist's pen.

Although you may not realize it, you are already familiar with much of Thomas Nast's work. As you read this web site, you will likely be surprised to discover what you already know.

The characture above which Thomas Nast did of himself was printed in the 2 December 1876 issue of Harper's Weekly.