As the longest-running cartoon by a single artist in American History, Peanuts has become a water mark of American cultural thought. Recognized across America and internationally, the Peanuts characters are familiar reminders of the struggles and joys of the American childhood experience. Corporate America has also capitalized on America's recognition of Peanuts through advertising campaigns and corporate logos. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Sally, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the gang have certainly become a part of American cultural framework within the past 50 years.

Cloaked in the situational humor of children's lives, Peanuts addresses major social, political and religious issues which provide emotional depth to the sparsely drawn characters.

Beyond these issues, however, Peanuts reflects a greater cultural shift in ideas of America childhood in the 1950s after the revolutionizing theories of Dr. Spock. While Schulz may not have been directly familiar with The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, Spock's theories are nonetheless evident in the Peanuts strip. A departure from strict parental control and regimen, Spock advised nurturing, understanding, and permissiveness as the keys to childrearing.  And in combination with the obvious physical needs of children, Spock concentrated on their psychological well-being. Similarly Peanuts deals with important psychological issues such as love, anxiety, anger, and jealousy through childhood experiences.

Although, these two cultural icons emerged in the 1950s they are still popular today and will always provide a snapshot into 'the golden age of American childhood.' They have truly changed the way we view children, not only as little people, but as complex, psychologically sophisticated individuals.

In the end, of course, Peanuts is just funny. And that, arguably, is what has kept it afloat. Beyond simple jokes, readers connect with Charlie Brown and Co.'s humorous and humorously tragic adventures, the strip's psychological and the sociological themes, and Schulz's mastery at finding deeper meaning in a gag.