The Donkey and the Elephant: A History of American Political Symbols
The Donkey
The donkey has been the symbol of the Democratic Party for over a century. The Democrats did not plan to use the donkey as their symbol, but it was popularized by political cartoonist Thomas Nast in the 1870s. Nast used the donkey to represent the Democratic Party because it was seen as a stubborn and braying animal.
The Elephant
The Republican Party's elephant symbol was also created by Thomas Nast. In an 1874 cartoon, Nast depicted the Republicans as an elephant, and the symbol quickly caught on. The elephant was seen as a strong and powerful animal, which represented the Republican Party's values.
Variations on the Donkey and Elephant
In some states, the Democratic Party has used other symbols, such as the rooster. However, the donkey and the elephant remain the most common symbols of the two major political parties in the United States.
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