Political cartoons

Cartoon entitled ‘Amputation’ by Thomas Rowlandson, dated 1785. (DUL ref: Baker Baker Prints No 68)

Look at the source carefully. It is a cartoon from 1785 entitled ‘Amputation’. The cartoonist is making a point about the state of surgical amputations in the late 18th century. A transcript and enlarged version are available.

1. What point is the cartoonist making?

2. How has the cartoonist shown this?

3. Explain what point the cartoonist is making by using at least 4 different parts of the cartoon.

Print entitled ‘The Optic Curls or the Obligeing Head Dress’ dating from the late 18th century. (DUL ref: Baker Baker prints No 29)

Look at the source carefully and then try to answer the following question. An enlarged version is available.

1. What information could you get from this source about how people dressed in the 18th century?

Cartoon entitled ‘The Balance of Justice’ and dated 1802. (DUL Ref: Baker Baker Prints, 133)

Answer the following questions about this source before deciding what message you think the cartoonist was trying to get across. A transcript and an enlarged version are available.

1. What has happened to the men on both sides of the scales?

2. One side of the scales is meant to represent the rich while the other side represents the poor. Explain which side is supposed to represent the rich and which side the poor. Then explain how you know this.

3. The title of the cartoon is ‘The Balance of Justice’. Using your answers to the above questions and looking closely again at the source, explain what point you think the cartoonist is trying to make.

Well done! Now see how moving images can be used to study history.