Who Is Thomas Nast?

Thomas Nast is known as the "Father of the American Cartoon," having created satirical art during the 19th century that critiqued slavery and crime. In this political cartoon, Thomas Nast as an artist reflects on the differences between the Republican and Democratic parties. The political parties now are different from when the cartoon was published. The Republican Party was the party of the people, mostly supported by the North. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, was the party of the South, of business, and was noted for being supported by former Confederate soldiers and sympathizers.

Political cartoons could be defined as illustrations or cartoon strips that contain a social and/or political message in them. Political cartoons are often based on the current events around when they were written.

The title of the cartoon that I have chosen is “Fire,” by Herblock . In the cartoon there is a man with the words “hysteria” written on the side of his leg. The man is climbing a ladder that leads to the Statue of Liberty’s torch with the a bucket, filled with water. The man seems to be trying to put the fire that is on the Statue of Liberty’s torch out. My interpretation of this cartoon is that in the midst of all the craziness with Mccarthyism, The anti-communist are crushing many freedoms and liberties that the Americans had. In my opinion, this cartoon is effective because when Americans understand the meaning of the cartoon, they will realize anti-communist are threatening their liberties. After World War II Russians forced communist control

Originating in the 19th century, political cartoons are created and drawn as a means to deliver a message. Whether it be about politics, events or social concerns, the artist is able to express themselves creatively. The cartoons are not only meant to express the view of the creator, but are also open to interpretation. Most political cartoons have a biased point of view and uses rhetoric to persuade its audience.

Thomas Nast was one of the famous artists in the 19th century. His work had a major impact where effected the political world. He was a journalist and illustrator. Thomas Nast was known as a “father of the American Cartoon” because of his work that critiques on the major events happened back then which is slavery and crime. He was famous in designing cartoon about civil war, Santa Claus, and Slavery pictures. In order to understand Thomas Nast impacts and his achievements, it is essential to know about Thomas Nast history by knowing his early life, influential political cartoonist, civil war prints, Santa Claus, Slavery, and final years of his work.

They use their artistic skills as an aid to convey messages to people of all ages. Political cartoons appear all over the internet and social media. The cartoonists usually distort several of the characters’ physical features in order to emphasize a belief or criticize an idea in the society. A recent political cartoon depicts Donald Trump with a long nose. The cartoonist tried to influence the viewers into believing that Donald Trump is a liar, and he does not fit to be president. It might seem that the cartoonist drew the cartoon just to make the viewers laugh, but his goal was actually to present the reasons why US citizens should not vote for Trump. This drawing might not immediately cause the viewers to alter their attitude towards Trump, but the drawing will appear in the viewer's’ mind whenever the presidential election is mentioned. Sometimes, the cartoon might even influence the viewer to vote for Clinton instead of Donald Trump. The more entertaining a cartoon appear, the faster the picture will spread throughout social media and the internet. This will allow the cartoonist to spread his ideas to a greater amount of

Political cartoons are an illustrative technique that political cartoonist use to display a message to the viewers about government, world affairs, and politics. In 1754, publishers of the Pennsylvania Gazette published the first political cartoon illustrated by Benjamin Franklin (West, par. 1). Benjamin Franklin used his first political cartoon, titled Join or Die, to gain support from the colonies for the Crown’s war against the French (West, par. 1). Since the 1700s, illustrators use political cartoons as a medium to display political messages to its viewers (West, par. 1). On March 10, 2015, publishers of the Columbia Daily Tribune published a political cartoon, illustrated by John Darkow, titled Hillary Has A Primary Opponent (Darkow,

This political cartoon is saying that if you vote for the democrats than you are a white man. There was slavery then if you vote for the republicans than you would be compared to a negro.

The political cartoons of the 1800s reflected the feelings of many laborers of the time. The American Revolution began in the early 1800s and continued through much of the 19th century. The low wages and high fees of being a laborer, added to the long hours many worked, made people desperate to find a better way of life. Despite their need for a better life, many laborers had little skill or ability to anything else. As the cartoon shows they are being crushed between their high rent that they are required to pay and the low wages being driven by the new monopolies and corporations of the time. Eventually riots broke out in the cities as the workers got more and more desperate to push for an increase in wages.

The cartoon above is called “The Irish Declaration of Independence that We Are Familiar With” published in 1883 by Frederick Burr Opper. Opper is regarded as one of the pioneers of American newspaper comic strips, best known for his comic strip Happy Hooligan. His comic characters were featured in magazine gag cartoons, covers, political cartoons and comic strips for six decades. The magazine this cartoon is featured in was called Puck Magazine. Puck Magazine was America’s first successful humor magazine, which is to say it was long-lived (1876-1918), influential, and quite prosperous. It published three large color cartoons in each issue, which for the first ten years or so were all political in nature. Later they were increasingly purely comic or illustrative. At Puck’s height, the cartoons were among the country’s most important political pronouncements of the week. In addition to that, Puck played a critical role in the evolution of American humor, moving the art from its tall-tales and dialect-laden roots toward the more urbane and literary humor associated with magazines like the New Yorker.

The cartoon uncovers the manipulation orchestrated by the Democrat's top representatives over the free-soilers. The cartoonist shows the responsibility of the Democrats for the decision on slavery in the new territories. Highlighting the smallest of the Democrats but with enough power to hold the giant Free-Soiler and lead every situation in favor of party ambitions. In the background, through the flames and the figure of a dead man, the cartoonist highlights the conflicts lived

During the 1920’s a series of events were set into motion that plunged America into one of the worst time of its existence come 1929 and later the Great Depression. Through the challenges America faced, it arose to become the world’s strongest leading economical and political superpower. As the country began to emerge stronger than ever, leaders arose to the occasion and aided its progression as a world power. One such leader was be Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Due to his actions, the memory of him was preserved in the form of political cartoons for individuals to view and come to the conclusion that despite some ill feelings toward the man, he was a man of noble character who aided America in achieving greatness.

During the Progressive Era, many people were beginning to realize the effects of the Gilded Age, which left almost the whole nation in poverty, so some people called muckrakers rose to the challenge to help resolve the poverty problem. Among the muckrakers, Thomas Nast effectively helped try to stop a thief in office, who was secretly stealing from the country. Thomas Nast 's birthplace was Landau, Germany, and his birthdate is September 27, 1840. In 1846, he and his family immigrated to New York City. Thomas Nast was an American artist, best known for his paintings and caricatures. He is especially known for his political cartoons against The New York City political machine and promoting Radical Reconstruction during slavery. Thomas Nast was one of the most persuasive political cartoonists in America, drawing over 2,200 cartoons. Nast created a turning point in American History with his cartoons, using his artistic talent and adding dialogue. Nast left a permanent mark on the nation, to show how corrupt the nation was using symbols such as the Republican Elephant and the Tammany Tiger. Thomas Nast effectively removed corruption from the nation by working with Harper’s Weekly, attacking Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, and using his cartoons against other groups of people who were creating flaws in the nation.

Early in 1941, a result of World War II, Theodor Seuss Geisel began developing political cartoons for the liberal publication, PM Magazine. Being too old for the draft, Seuss aided the military by making animated training films and illustrated propaganda posters for the Department of Treasury and the War Production Board. This series of events, led Seuss to not write another children’s book for seven years. As a Result of wearing multiple hats, do we find that Seuss’ career as a political cartoonist effects the messages given in his children’s literature?

Cartoons have been a prominent and interesting apparatus for politics throughout the ages. Political movements, parties, and groups using propaganda to further their beliefs dates back to the eighteenth and nineteenth century. Though America faces an austere history, lighthearted propaganda colors its decades and gives them life. Political cartoons are so widely used in America that they have become a significant piece of pop culture. Moreover, because of their ability to capture the reader’s attention, propaganda is exploited throughout politics.The cartoons are wonders of the human imagination; illustrators create comical images and intertwine profound political opinions to influence their viewer’s mind. For example, one movement that abundantly grew from propaganda was the women’s rights movement. The artists of the seemingly despised cause drew controversial cartoons that set a fire in the hearts of women all over the world. Consequently, the same cartoons ignited a passionate war between women who wanted freedom, and those who believed that women could not handle that freedom. Through the use of colorful concepts and daring expressions, political cartoons display the influence of the women’s rights movement throughout history, while the cartoons of Anti-Feminists demonstrates the world’s reaction to the movement.