Political Cartoons: Thomas Nast's Editorial Perspective of Current Events in his Time
Thomas Nast (1840-1902) worked at one of the most important illustrated newspapers in the United States during the 19th century. Nast worked for "Harper's Weekly" during the American Civil War (1861-1865). President Abraham Lincoln called Nast his "best recruiting sergeant" for the Union because of the power of his illustrations. Nast built readers' visual literacy through thousands of published images. Nast's political cartoons addressed current events in the United States during his lifetime including: slavery, political corruption, race, war, and other themes.
This Resource Kit examines a selection of Nast's political cartoons from the Civil War and asks the following questions:
How does an artist's values impact their work?
Why does the intended audience matter?
How do political cartoons communicate current events?
Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum
