This is a cartoon lithograph created by N. Currier (of Currier and Ives fame) in 1849. It is currently held by the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. (LC-DIG-pga-05072)
It is high enough resolution so that if you have access to a Smart Board, you can zoom in on details. However, it should also be clear enough to print out on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. To access the high resolution image for printing or projection, right click on the image. Click “View Image” (or on a Mac “Open image in new tab”). To print, click “print.” In the print preview, click “Page Setup.” Choose “Landscape” for the orientation. Set all headers and footers to “blank.” Set margins to “0.” Then print.
Look to the Seven Strategies for help in generating questions for your classroom.
Possible questions include:
Strategy 1: What kind of image is this: photograph, cartoon drawing, fine art?
Strategy 2: What was the purpose and audience for this photograph?
Strategy 4: What are some details in the image? How many different ways of getting to California are shown? Do they all seem real? What are the people carrying? How are the people acting? What do the speech balloons say? What is the title of the cartoon? Does anything about the image surprise you?
Strategy 3: What does Currier think about the men going to California? What message is he trying to communicate?
Strategy 5: Where might you be able to get more information about the image?