November 7: Political Cartoons
On the 7 November 1874, the elephant was first used as a symbol for the Republican Party. Although it has now been adopted by the Republicans as their symbol, the initial use of the image was not flattering. Nast is also responsible for developing the donkey image that is currently used by the Democratic Party.
The elephant image was developed by Thomas Nast, a prominent editorial cartoonist in a drawing he did for Harper’s Weekly. The elephant pictured in the satirical cartoon was about to fall into a hole. The impetus for the cartoon was a possible third term run by President Ulysses S. Grant.
As Dan Backer explains, “Political cartoons are for the most part composed of two elements: caricature, which parodies the individual, and allusion, which creates the situation or context into which the individual is placed.” Backer traces the history of political cartoons back to the Protestant Reformation; especially as seen in Passional Christi und Antichristi in which Martin Luther juxtaposes two woodcuts: one of Jesus chasing the money changers out of the temple and one of the Pope selling indulgences.
The first editorial cartoon published in the United States was designed by Benjamin Franklin. It was the now iconic image of a snake that has been cut into parts—each part representing a section of the British colonies—with the caption “Join or Die.” The image is still being used in the twenty-first century.
Early twentieth century memes took the form of political postcards such as those that argued against suffrage for women. In her “War on Women, Waged in Postcards: Memes from the Suffragist Era,” Lisa Hix shows examples of these postcards while giving a history of the suffragist movement.
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As Christmas advertisements replace political advertisements, we will continue to see Nast’s legacy because it is Nast who created the image of Santa Clause as a jolly, fat old man.
–Steven L. Berg, PhD
Photo Caption: Nast cartoon from 7 November 1874 issue of Harper’s weekly. (top) Benjamin Franklin’s 1754 “Join or Die.” Nast’s “Merry Old Santa Claus” from the 1 January 1881 issue of Harper’s Weekly.
Although Today in History is primarily student written, there are some days when we do not have a student author. You will enjoy another student entry tomorrow.
Steven Cook 
Marco Yaquinto 
Brian Rowe 
Keith Rovin 
Daniel Rathburn 
Anthony Ibrahim 
Meagan Nystrom 
Benjamin Franklin also is credited for inventing the lighting rod , the glass armonica instrument , the Franklin stove a metal lined fire place, the flexiable urinary catheter and bifocal glasses. He was also the first United States Postmaster General , Minister to France and Sweden. Many people focus on the great politicians of his time while ignoring his scientific achievements. Dr.Franklin was more than just a politician with a printing press he was one of the first American scientists.