How do you analyze a political cartoon?

Political cartoons can be hilarious, but they have a lot more meaning than just making you laugh. They can be analyzed and convey many different messages about the subject being illustrated. In order to analyze it you must read the captions and observe the pictures with close attention. Every detail means something whether it's a word misspelled or the way a person is standing. But to understand the meanings, you have to understand the politics behind it as well so you must be aware of what is going on around you. You also must understand the audience the artist is approaching, but also be able to look at it from different points of view because people with different political views could view it different ways.

I found a guide to analyzing political cartoons, and in summary it says: Identify the symbols in the cartoon and think about what the artist intends each symbol to stand for. Look for any characteristics that seem exaggerated, and decide what point the artist is trying to make. Look for any labels that make the object's or person's more clear, and decide why the artist chose to label that particular object or person. Decide what the cartoon's main analogy is. See if you can find any irony in the situation the cartoon shows, and think about what point the irony is intending to emphasize. When you've done all of this ask yourself the following questions: What issue is this political cartoon about? What is this cartoonist's opinion on this issue? What other opinion can you imagine another person having on this issue? Did you find this cartoon persuasive, why or why not?

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/political-cartoon/cag.html 

This guide was very similar to what I believed to be important in thinking about when analyzing a political cartoon, but more in detail. When I look at cartoons I will follow the guide that I found on line.

This political cartoon shows a Cuban woman begging for help from the American man against a Spanish man. This represents the United States war with Spain in order to free Cuba. The man from Spain is portrayed as a villain-like character due to their brutal treatment of Cubans. The fancy hat on the American represents the wealth of the US, while the bare feet of the Cuban woman represents the poverty of Cuba. The American man is also much taller than both of the characters in order to show that the United States is the dominant country. All of this shows that the artist is in favor of the United States and is trying to share the message that the United States is desperately needed to help the Cubans and free them from the rule of the cruel Spaniards. 

This political cartoon shows a large, American military boot stepping into the Philippines, and a small man with a hat that says Aguinaldo poking it with a stick. The small sign in the background says, "Notice the US is requested to withdraw PDQ signed Aguinaldo." The boot represents the American military coming into the Philippines, while the small man with the stick represents the Philippine's weak attempt to keep them out. The boot is much larger than the man as well as the Philippines as a whole to represent that the United States is larger and stronger than the Philippines. The artist is in favor of the United States and is trying to share the message that the United States military is unstoppable and will take over the Philippines with ease.  

This political cartoon shows Uncle Sam standing with a Puerto Rican man and a Cuban man behind him, and a Filipino in front of him. The order of the people represents that Puerto Rico and Cuba are already controlled and in support of the United States, and now America is planning on taking over the Philippines. Uncle Sam is much larger than the people from the other countries, and also looks much older in order to represent that the United States is larger and better and should be looked up to, and that these countries need their control. The people behind him are fully clothed, with some American attire, and have smiles on their face while the Filipino is almost naked. This artist is in favor of the United States and is showing that those behind America are much more fortunate than those who are not, so the Philippines should join.