Where did these Political Symbols come from???

1. Where did these Political Symbols come from???

2. Political Images – DonkeyDemocrat Symbol • Presidential candidate Andrew Jackson was 1st Democrat to be associated with the donkey symbol. • His opponents during the 1828 election tried to label him a “jackass” for his Populist beliefs “Let the people rule”

3. Andrew Jackson found it amusing and used the donkey on his campaign posters! • Political Cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited with making the donkey the recognized symbol of the Democratic Party

4. Political Images – ElephantRepublican Symbol • Thomas Nast is also responsible for the Republican Party symbol • Nast drew a political cartoon about a donkey clothed in lion’s skin, scaring away all of the animals in a zoo • One of the animals was labeled “The Republican Vote” and it stuck.

6. Political Images - Ballot Box • Practice of secret voting • Dates back to Ancient Greeks • used black and white balls • white - yes, black - no • placed into a bag so no one wouldknow your vote

7. US political parties during the early 19th Century would print and distributed ballots to voters • Not secret, politicians knew how you voted • Reformed: government printed all ballots and supervised elections so politicians could not watch people vote.

8. Political Images - Uncle Sam • Cartoon representing the government of the US • Character began to appear in newspapers and magazines around the 19th century Over the years, he has evolved into tall, white-haired man with a beard dressed in red, white and blue

9. Uncle Sam was modeled after Samuel Wilson, a meat supplier • The US government bought their meat from Sam during the War of 1812 • Stamped his meat US and became known as “Uncle Sam”