Political cartoons capture the mood of a period or an event more clearly than another source if you develop the ability to "read" these documents carefully.

Political cartoons have appeared in newspapers and magazines since the colonial period; they've been used to rally support for a cause and, more often than not, take a position against those in power. The artists rely on caricature or distortion and familiar symbols to emphasize their points of view. It's important to place the cartoon in time. This task can be relatively easy if the subject is clear — a caricature showing Lincoln and his generals obviously is from the Civil War — or you can use the way the figures are dressed to come up with an approximate date. It's also important to read the caption and any other printed words. In the nineteenth century, the figures in cartoons sometimes carried on a conversation. The printed information is critical in understanding the point the artist is trying to make.