How do you analyze a political cartoon?

So, if I am being completely honest, I have no clue how you analyze a cartoon, let alone a political one. When given the challenge of deciphering one in class, I could only take a guess as to what the picture was saying and, to my surprise, I wasn't too far off. According to a website issued by the Library of Congress, there are several steps into finding the true meaning of a cartoon. This website and many others show that cartoonists use symbolism, irony, exaggeration, analogy, and labeling as ways to get their point across.  For me, I find that these steps work best: observe (take a look at the cartoon and get a idea of the bigger picture), words (see if the cartoon contains words or phrases and use them to get a better idea of what message is being portrayed), sarcasm and irony (is the cartoon being sincere or is it funny? does the cartoon have conflicting imagery?), and finally decide (each cartoon has a different meaning to each person looking at it... just because you see it differently than the person next to you doesn't mean you are wrong but it also doesn't mean you are right).

sinking of the Maine 

This cartoon demonstrates the sinking of the Maine. The man on the left is an American (maybe Uncle Sam but no guarantee) and the man on the right is a Spaniard. The title of the cartoon is Spanish Politeness and the irony in that is the man on the right is holding a dagger behind his back. The man on the left is looking at the man on the right in utter shock because it was believed that Spain sunk the ship and the man on the right is looking looking at the man on the left like he's innocent or trying to convince the man on the left he isn't in the wrong.

expansion of the nation  

In this cartoon, Uncle Sam can be seen plowing a piece of land in the Philippines. This can be confirmed by the title of the cartoon, Breaking New Ground. Under the title in the subheading it states: Uncle Sam having put his hand to the plow cannot turn back. In the bottom of the field it reads- The Philippine Field. The irony come by way of the horses pulling the plow. On the horses hind ends it reads justice and humanity. The irony comes into play because, while these were the original goals of the U.S. stepping in, the end result was a little more complicated than that.

open book policy 

This cartoon demonstrates the significance of the open book policy. On the bottom of the drawing, the title The Open Book can be seen. In the background you can see Philippines on the wall beside the gate and an American man (most likely Uncle Sam). Here him and another figure can be seen welcoming two men through the gates into a land other than what they call home. In the new land there is a temple or building not too different from the Asian culture. The irony in this cartoon is that the two men entering the gates are sort of grungy looking but are carrying to large sacks. This is ironic though because the Philippines had ultimately lost control over their own nation and America had taken over.