When it comes to American politics, two animals dominate the scene: the donkey and the elephant. These animals have become synonymous with the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. But how did these animals become the mascots of American politics?
Contents
The Donkey: A Symbol of Stubbornness
The story of the donkey as a political symbol begins in 1828, during the presidential campaign of Andrew Jackson. Jackson’s opponents called him a “jackass,” and Jackson, always one to turn a negative into a positive, embraced the insult. He started using the donkey in his campaign posters and cartoons, and the symbol stuck.
But it wasn’t until 1880 that the donkey truly became associated with the Democratic party. That year, cartoonist Thomas Nast published a cartoon in Harper’s Weekly showing a donkey wearing a lion’s skin, scaring away all the other animals at the zoo. The caption read, “The Democratic Party’s Ass.” The cartoon was a hit, and the donkey became the official symbol of the Democratic party.
The Elephant: A Symbol of Strength
The elephant’s journey to political mascot status was a bit less straightforward. The first political cartoon to feature an elephant was published in 1864, during Abraham Lincoln’s re-election campaign. The cartoon, by Thomas Nast once again, showed an elephant labeled “the Republican vote” trampling over a map of the Confederacy. But it wasn’t until the 1870s that the elephant really caught on as a symbol of the Republican party.
It all started with a political cartoon that depicted an elephant balancing on a tiny ball labeled “the solid South.” The cartoon was a reference to the Republican party’s attempts to win over Southern voters. The elephant was meant to symbolize the party’s strength and stability, and the cartoon was a hit. From then on, the elephant became the unofficial symbol of the Republican party.
The Donkey and Elephant Today
Today, the donkey and elephant remain deeply ingrained in American politics. They appear on campaign posters, bumper stickers, and merchandise of all kinds. They’re even used to represent political leanings in polls and surveys. But why these two animals? Why not a lion or a tiger or a bear?
Part of the reason the donkey and elephant have endured as political symbols is their simplicity. They’re easy to recognize, easy to draw, and easy to remember. But more than that, they’ve become part of our political culture. When we see a donkey or an elephant, we know exactly what it means: this is a symbol of American politics.
Conclusion
The donkey and elephant may seem like odd choices for political mascots, but they’ve become an important part of American politics. From Andrew Jackson to Abraham Lincoln to today’s politicians, these two animals have represented the ideals and values of their respective parties. They may be stubborn and strong, but they’re also enduring symbols of our democracy.