Donkey Symbolizes Democrats for First Time: One Cartoon Changes Politics
Thomas Nast didn't just draw a cartoon. He accidentally birthed a national political symbol that would stick for generations. His satirical sketch of a donkey kicking a dead lion—meant to mock Democrat Horace Greeley—became the Democratic Party's permanent mascot. And Nast, the German immigrant cartoonist, was already famous for creating Uncle Sam and helping expose Tammany Hall's corruption. One sharp, snarky illustration changed political branding forever. The donkey went from insult to identity in a single stroke of his pen.
January 15, 1870
156 years ago
Key Figures & Places
United States Democratic Party
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cartoon
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donkey
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Thomas Nast
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Harper's Weekly
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Democratic Party (United States)
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File:Democraticjackass.jpg
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Democratic Party (United States)
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Thomas Nast
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Political cartoon
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Donkey
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Harper's Weekly
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What Else Happened on January 15
Thirteen thousand starving people. A city under total blockade. Nebuchadrezzar's Babylonian armies didn't just want Jerusalem—they wanted to crush the spirit of…
Nabucodonosor II de Babilonia sitia Jerusalén bajo el reinado de Sedequías. El sitio durará dos años, hasta el 18 de julio del 586 a. C.
He lasted 95 days. A former playboy and Nero's wingman, Otho seized the imperial throne through pure audacity—murdering his predecessor Galba in broad daylight …
Während des Nika-Aufstandes der Zirkusparteien gegen den byzantinischen Kaiser Justinian I. zünden Aufständische mehrere Gebäude an, unter anderem den Großen Pa…
إعلان قيام الدولة الفاطمية في المغرب بعد نجاح أبي عبد الله الشيعي في دعوته وجذب الأعوان والأنصار لها وقيامه بمبايعة عبيد الله المهدي بالخلافة.
à Paris, Philippe II Auguste crée juridiquement l'université de Paris en octroyant une charte royale accordant le for ecclésiastique à ses membres.
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