In The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation the reader can see many uses of images to support arguments that the writer is trying to make.  These images add to the text by making it more visually interesting and easier to interpret.  By looking at the visual text in order from beginning to end, the reader can decipher all of these images.

This visual text appears to be directed at all Americans.  This is because it is meant to educate and convey important details of the Constitution through the interesting medium of a comic.  The overall design built with pictures and contrasting colors catches the reader’s eye and appeals to their interests.  These pictures are not only visually pleasing, they also have significance when paired with the different phrases as seen through analysis.

The first line in this visual text, “Establish justice…” goes with the image that is right next to it.  This is an easy section to interpret since it is one phrase paired with one image.  The image is of a menacing judge slamming his gavel.  This image implies that justice corresponds with validated punishment.  It says that if somebody does something illegal, justice will be served and that person will have to face a judge like the one in the image.  The second line, “…Insure domestic tranquility…” also goes with just one image, but this one has several elements to it.  On the left side of the image, the reader can see several things.  The homes in this image seem warm and peaceful.  The man on the left side seems very kind, and the little girl is welcoming her mother home from work.  This image suggests that it is fine for families to mix up the typical gender roles of having the man do all the work while the woman stays at home.  This shows the reader that domestic tranquility does not mean the same thing for all Americans, because some people want to reverse stereotypical customs.  The man on the right side of the image is taking out his trash, which represents the responsibility that every person has to keep the neighborhood clean and serene.  All of these images in this first little section are relatively straightforward and do not need a large amount of interpretation.

The next line in this excerpt, “…Provide for the common defense…” goes with an image that has a strong military feeling to it.  In the foreground of the image there are many rows of people.  They are all looking up in awe at the aircraft carrier and fighter jets.  The illustrator purposely draws this image with an upward angle to make the aircraft carrier look enormous, and the fighter jets look like they are flying high in the sky.  This angle makes the military fleet look overpowering and able to defend anything or anyone.  Another aspect of this image is that it looks extremely patriotic.  The red, white, and blue along with the flags drawn in this image are meant to make people feel proud of their country’s military.  The next line, “…Promote the general welfare…” is connected to two images.  The top image shows the strong infrastructure that this country has built.  In the background of the image is a dam which is most likely used to generate power for citizens or control the water in a useful way.  The reader can also see power lines in this image that are used for the welfare of all people that depend on electricity.  Towards the middle of this image, the reader can see a car driving on a bridge that was built to make it easier for people to travel, thus assisting the general welfare.  In the bottom of this image, the reader can see two men helping a bird after there appears to have been an oil spill.  This suggests that the United States is not only responsible for the people living here, but also the animals and other wildlife.  This also shows that the people of this country are responsible for cleaning up after themselves, to once again, promote the general welfare of all living creatures.

The last part of this sentence and the first sentence on the second page have a strong connection.  The top part of the last image on the first page shows an old couple next to a government building for Social Security.  Government assistance is a “blessing of liberty” for people who need it like this old couple.  The bottom part of this image, which is of a long line of people waiting to vote at a ballot box, is what has the connection to the top image on the next page.  At first glance it looks like a very simple image, but it needs more interpretation to see its 

meaning.  The people in the back of the image seem to be from a long time ago.  It looks like Thomas Jefferson is in the back of the line and he is surrounded by white men who are all wearing old-fashioned clothes.  Most of the line is white men, showing that for most of this country’s history only white men could vote.  A little bit farther than halfway down the line is a black man, showing that it took a while for African American men to be given the right to vote.  After the black man is a woman, showing that women in this country had to wait the longest to vote out of any group.  The people closest to the ballot box are men and women of different ethnicities showing that now there are no unlawful restrictions on who can vote.  This is connected to the top of the second page because the top caption on the second page talks about how the world today is extremely different than when the Constitution was written.  This is symbolized by new groups of people being able to vote, and the advancement of technology as shown by the illustrations.

The next two images on the second page are connected, and they are both very significant.  The first image shows the way the country used to be.  In the image, rich white men are guarding the flag because they want the privileges of the United States to be kept to themselves.  They want to be the only people who can vote and own property.  The more significant section of this image is on the left side, though.  The man in the front appears to be Father Time holding an hour glass.  The people standing behind Father Time are African Americans, women, and a disabled old man.  This symbolizes that the time is running out for middle-aged white men, and that soon all people, regardless of who they are or what they look like, will be able to share in the rights of this country.  The bottom half of this image represents present day.  An African American man is carrying the flag out of the vault for all to see.  The 

people in the crowd are of different genders and ethnicities, and yet they are all showing respect to the flag which represents the country of equality and justice.

The very last image of this visual text is an extremely significant conclusion.  The caption says that the people of this country must remember its past, and the image supports that idea.  On the left side is a picture of African Americans in handcuffs, which clearly represents slavery.  This symbolizes that this country must never go back to the way that it used to treat people of color, but must always acknowledge that slavery occurred to make sure it never happens again.  The right side of the image shows a poster about women’s suffrage.  This side has the same significance as the left side.  All Americans must accept the fact that women were once discriminated against in the world of voting, and that it would never be acceptable for that to happen again.  The citizens of the United States are not perfect, but by studying their past, and by working for a better future, this country can become a place where all people are truly welcome.  This concept can be seen through these images that represent a variety of opportunities and struggles that Americans must face together to help each other through the good times and the bad.