Teacher Guide to Student Worksheet 2- Cartoon Analysis Worksheet

Directions: Analyze the political cartoon by answering the questions

below.

Level 1

Visuals / Words (Not all cartoons include words)
  1. List the objects or people you see in the cartoon.
Objects:
  1. Hook
  2. Pitch Forks
  3. Barrels
  4. Gallows
People:
  1. Tax Collector
  2. Two Farmers
  3. Devil
  4. Hang man
  5. Dead tax collector
/
  1. Identify the cartoon caption and/or title.
Title: An Exciseman
  1. Locate three words or phrases used by the cartoonists to identify objects or people within the cartoon.
a. tar and feather
b. Come friend burn. I’ll take you to my
master.
c. An exciseman carrying off two kegs of
whiskey

Level 2

Visuals / Words
  1. Which of the objects on your list are symbols?
  1. Devil
  2. Barrel
  3. Gallows
  1. What do you think each symbol means?
  1. Devil-The tax collectors were doing evil deeds; therefore, they should die and burn in hell. It shows the disapproval of the excise tax on whiskey.
  2. Barrel-Whiskey (taxable income)
  3. Gallows-Desire for death of the tax collector
/
  1. Which words or phrases in the cartoon appear to be the most significant? Why do you think so?
  1. “An Exiseman”-represents the tax collector
  2. “Let’s tar and feather the rascal”-represents the violence used against the tax collector who collected the despised tax on whiskey.
  3. “Come friend burn. I’ll take thee to thy master. Thou art our old friend the long noted petitioner” -Represents the fact that some individuals saw a need to use violence in an attempt to have the tax abolished because written petitions were not successful.
  1. List adjectives that describe the emotions portrayed in the cartoon.
  1. anger
  2. disappointment
  3. vengeful

Level 3

  1. Describe the action taking place in the cartoon.
Two farmers with pitchforks are chasing a tax collector who is carrying two kegs. An evil trickster whose desire is to lead him to his death stops the exciseman. The exciseman is hung and a keg of whiskey that is set on fire explodes beneath him.
  1. Explain how the words in the cartoon clarify the action.
The oversized title, The Exciseman, tells us who the largest character is in the cartoon. The discussion of the two small farmers. Tar and feather, indicates their disapproval for the tax. The dialogue from the devil indicates the desire to harm and kill those who collect the despised tax. This cartoonist also gave a written description of what events were taking place in the cartoon.
  1. Explain the message of the cartoon.
Farmers felt the excise tax was unfair and were angered that their attempts to have it abolished had failed. Therefore, they resorted to violence in an attempt to have the tax abolished. Tax collectors, such as the exciseman, were tarred and feathered. Their lives were also threatened.
  1. What special interest groups would agree/disagree with the cartoon’s message? Why?
People in the lower and middle classes would most likely agree with the cartoon’s message. Many individuals feel that their taxes are too high in proportion to the income they make. They might also feel that the government already taxes our income, why should they also tax other products. On the other hand, world peace groups promoting non-violence might disagree with the message based on the violence it suggests.

Courtesy of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

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