02 Feb New Deal Cartoon – FDR’s “Successful Experiment”
Background Reading: Review this short article on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Social Welfare History Project – TVA Overview
Important Note: The figure in the cartoon is not Benjamin Franklin. The artist draws inspiration from Franklin’s image—because of the similarity in names Franklin Roosevelt and Benjamin Franklin and that both had something to do with Electricity —but the person in the cartoon is a modern symbol of scientific experimentation and innovation.
If you claim the person is Ben Franklin (1706-1790), your assignment will receive a zero until it is revised and resubmitted (you’d be shocked -ha ha- at how many students write that!!).
Now examine the cartoon and answer the following:
1. Observation: List at least 10 distinct objects, figures, or details in the cartoon. Look carefully at tools, facial expressions, setting, motion, and text—nothing is accidental in political cartoons.
2. Interpretation: What is the artist saying about the TVA or the broader goals of the New Deal?
Use the sentence: “The artist’s message is ___________, as evidenced by ___________ in the image.”
3. Reflection: Was the cartoon’s message clear to you? What prior knowledge (about the New Deal, electricity, Franklin, or economic recovery) helped or challenged your understanding?
