Most Americans would be surprised to learn that both political symbols - the donkey for Democrats and the elephant for Republicans - were popularized by the same maverick cartoonist: Thomas Nast. The Democratic Party 's donkey and the Republican Party 's elephant have been on the political scene since the 19th century. The symbols tied to the Republican and Democratic parties (the elephant and donkey) have actually been around for more than 100 years.
As American as an elephant? Donkeys and elephants may be ubiquitous in US politics today, but they weren't always mascots for Democrats and Republicans. The donkey and the elephant are widely recognized symbols of the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties.
But what do animals have to do with politics, and how do cartoons fit in? Why Democrats Are Donkeys and Republicans Are Elephants: The Story Behind the Party Animals From satire to symbols: How a 19th. The Republican Party's traditional symbol is an elephant. According to the Republicans, an elephant is strong and dignified, which is part of what the party advocate for.
Have you ever wondered why an elephant represents the Republicans, while a donkey represents the Democrats in the United States? The two major political parties - the Republicans and the Democrats -that come to our mind every time we think of US politics, are very interestingly represented by an elephant and a donkey. Since 1853, every presidential candidates that came out victorious has. The habit of associating the donkey and the Democratic Party had begun.
Republicans The earliest connection of the elephant to the Republican Party was an illustration in an 1864 Abraham Lincoln presidential campaign newspaper, Father Abraham. It showed an elephant holding a banner and celebrating Union victories. The donkey and elephant are widely known as symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties in the US.
President Andrew Jackson was nicknamed "jackass" and depicted as a mule by opponents.