Every election cycle in the USA comes with images of donkeys and elephants, the iconic animals representing the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. These two symbols, as recognisable as Santa Claus and Uncle Sam, were established by political cartoonist Thomas Nast, whose work in Harper’s Weekly (1862-1886) shaped the political satire of his time and solidified these symbols in their current forms.
Nast, who grew up in New York, had experienced bullying as a child, and in his works, he combined his distaste for bullies with his empathy for their victims. His cartoons in Harper’s Weekly often contained intricate details and metaphorical messages, in contrast to today’s simpler illustrations.
A notable example is his caricature “Third Term Panic” (1874), where the elephant represents Republicans, and the donkey represents Democrats, symbolising a chaotic political scene.
Nast didn’t invent these animals as party symbols, but he used them uniquely to satirise both sides, portraying the elephant as clumsy and the donkey as stubborn. The fact that both parties adopted these symbols suggests either ignorance of Nast’s critique or a hint of self-deprecating humour.
