Economics and the Articles of Confederation: Political Cartoons

Overview
Given information about the effect of economics on the Articles of Confederation, students will create a political cartoon and then write an explanation of it.

Outcome
By studying political cartoons, students will understand how the Articles of Confederation affected economics.

Standards Addressed

Grade 8
Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark C
03. Explain how lack of power to regulate the economy contributed to the demise of the Articles of Confederation and the creation of U.S. Constitution.

Materials

• Political Cartoons student handout

Procedure

1. Introduce the class to political cartoons, using the example provided in this chapter. Explain how pictures sometimes can tell a story better than words can. Discuss the definition of satire: a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn; trenchant wit, irony or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly (source: Merriam-Webster, m-w.com).

2. Pass out the Political Cartoons student handout that gives information about how economics was a part of the Articles of Confederation. Encourage them to use satire in their work.

3. Divide the students into pairs and ask them to draw a political cartoon using one of the facts given in the worksheet.

4. Ask them to explain their cartoon in writing.

5. Post the cartoons around the room.

Evaluation