There's a fantastic collection of WWII cartoons by Dr Seuss at UC San Diego Library. I used it for a post on my Substack - The Forgotten Files. I stripped out the politics and turned into this lesson. (I've included a few of the cartoons here. Many more at Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons.)

In the early 1940s, as World War II raged in Europe, many Americans favored isolationism, believing the U.S. should stay out of foreign conflicts. This mindset was championed by groups like the America First Committee, whose prominent voices included Charles Lindbergh. However, Theodor Seuss Geisel—better known as Dr. Seuss—used his talent as a political cartoonist to criticize this isolationist stance. Between 1941 and 1943, Seuss created over 400 cartoons for PM, a liberal New York newspaper, targeting figures like Lindbergh and advocating for U.S. intervention in the war. His cartoons used humor and exaggeration to expose the dangers of ignoring the rise of fascism and urged Americans to recognize the global threat posed by Nazi Germany.

Begin with a discussion about satire. Ask students:

• What is satire? (A form of humor or irony used to criticize or expose flaws in politics, society, or people.)

• Where do we see satire today? (Guide students to bring up memes, political cartoons, TV shows like Saturday Night Live, etc.)

• Explain that while satire has taken many forms throughout history, political cartoons and memes are especially powerful tools for quickly communicating complex ideas through humor.

Share some of Dr. Seuss’s political cartoons critiquing isolationism during WWII. Project these onto a screen or distribute them as handouts.

Provide students with a Cartoon and Meme Analysis guide that includes questions like:

• What symbols are used in this cartoon? (e.g., ostrich, swastika, Lindbergh)

• How does Seuss use humor or exaggeration to criticize isolationism?

• What’s the message of the cartoon? Why is Seuss against isolationism?

• Who is the target of the cartoon’s satire? What political figures or groups are being critiqued?

• How might this cartoon have influenced public opinion at the time?

Example Analysis:

Take the Lindbergh cartoon at top (where Lindbergh pats the small Nazi serpent while ignoring the larger Nazi threat) and guide students through the analysis. Point out the use of irony—Lindbergh is focused on the small, “manageable” Nazi threat while the real danger looms in the background, which critiques his naive stance on fascism.

After the initial analysis, break students into small groups to analyze other cartoons using the handout as a guide.

After discussing the cartoons, transition to a discussion on memes with question like:

• How are memes similar to political cartoons? (Both use humor, irony, or exaggeration to critique people or ideas.)

• How do memes convey political messages quickly? (Memes often use humor and cultural references to communicate complex ideas in a way that’s easy to share and understand.)

• Can memes influence public opinion like Seuss’s cartoons did? Why or why not?

• How do memes function like political cartoons in shaping public opinion?

• Why do you think humor is such a powerful tool for political commentary?

• How can satire, whether in cartoons or memes, be used to both expose flaws and influence change?

Extension activity

Have students create their own memes using a free meme generator or digital tools (such as Canva or Imgflip). They can choose to satirize a historical issue or a modern one. The meme should:

• Use symbols or characters to convey a political or social critique.

• Include humor or irony to highlight the absurdity or danger of the issue.

• Be simple, but convey a clear message (just like Seuss’s cartoons).

Prompts:

• Satirize a current political figure or movement, using humor to expose contradictions or flaws in their message.

• Create a meme that critiques an aspect of American history, like isolationism, using contemporary language or symbols.

  WWII    Art/Music    Cartoons