democratic party us

Jackson ticket. Honor and gratitude to the man who has filled the meas...

Prints number 1828-5 through 1828-10 make up a series of election tickets for John Van Laer Mcm.ahon and George H. Steuart, Democratic candidates for Baltimore delegates to the Maryland General Assembly in 1828... more

Jackson delegate ticket. No "favored few, booted and spurred, ready to...

Election ticket with Democratic slate for governor and other Virginia state offices. The vignette illustration includes the seal of the state of Virginia with an eagle and cornucopiae. Below the vignette is the... more

Martin Van Buren Papers: Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-185...

Grand match between the Kinderhook poney and the Ohio ploughman

A satire on the presidential contest of 1836, using the metaphor of a billiards game between Whig candidate William Henry Harrison (left) and Democrat Martin Van Buren. The artist is clearly on the side of Harr... more

A gone case. A scene in Wall-Street

A comic scene representing two New York city political factions, the Whigs and the radical Democrats (or "Loco Focos"), as scuffling newsboys. The scene takes place before the half-built Customs House, where se... more

Democratic ticket. Liberty & equal rights

An illustrated election ticket for Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, listing Ohio's Democratic electors for the presidential race of 1836. The ticket is illustrated with a wood-engraving of Van Buren as... more

Democratic ticket. Going the whole hog

An illustrated election ticket for Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, listing Ohio Democratic electors for the presidential race of 1836. The ticket is illustrated with a small vignette of a man carrying ... more

Jinnoowine [i.e. "genuine"] Johnson ticket. "Carrying the war into Afr...

An illustrated election ticket for the presidential campaign of 1836. Oddly, the ticket lists Ohio's Democratic electors for Van Buren while making a vicious and obscene slur on the wife of his running-mate Ri... more

[Political cartoon showing Webster, Harrison, White, and Van Buren rid...

Photoprint of engraving. Appears to be a detail of broadside sheet reproduced in LC-USZ61-1654. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card, with subsequent revisions. Caption card tracings: Pol... more

[Political cartoon showing Van Buren racing on a hog; below is Democra...

Photoprint of engraving. Appears to be a detail of broadside sheet reproduced in LC-USZ61-1654. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card, with subsequent revisions. Caption card tracings: Pol... more

Democratic ticket. Stop Van!!!

An illustrated election ticket for Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, listing Ohio Democratic electors for the presidential race of 1836. The ticket is illustrated with a small vignette of a man, possibl... more

The death of old Tammany and his wife Loco Foco

A satirical view of the heavy losses suffered by Loco Foco and Tammany factions of the New York City Democratic party in the municipal elections of April 1837. The vote brought about not only the defeat of Tam... more

Eli Moore, representative from New York Chs. Fenderich del

Print shows Ely Moore, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right; includes a quote by Moore. Title from item. Published at the City of Washington. Caption continues: A purely democratic government must... more

Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury Chas. Fenderich del. ; printe...

Print shows Levi Woodbury, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right; includes a facsimile signature. Title from item. Caption continues: We go where Democratic principles go, and when they disappear, we mean t... more

Going the whole hog

Martin Van Buren's New York political favorites are represented as piglets suckled by a giant sow "The Empire State." The artist's pointed reference is to the exploitation of New York State by the President and... more

Treasury note

A parody of the often worthless fractional currencies or "shinplasters" issued by banks, businesses, and municipalities in lieu of coin. These fractional notes proliferated during the Panic of 1837 with the eme... more

Major Joe Bunker's last parade, or the fix of a senator and his 700 in...

Democratic senator Nathaniel P. Tallmadge of New York was the leader of the conservative or pro-Bank Democrats. Here Clay satirizes Tallmadge's attempts to undermine party support for Van Buren's hard money fis... more

Illustrations of the adventures of the renowned Don Quixote & his doug...

A burlesque history of the Jackson administration, with particular reference to his campaign to destroy the Bank of the United States. The narrative, in a series of twelve episodes, is based on Cervantes's "Don... more

Loco Foco expresses

A commentary on the Whigs' disappointment of "Loco Foco" Democratic expectations in the New York municipal elections of spring 1838. Successful Whig mayoral candidate Aaron Clark holds two horses by their tails... more

Disturbing a martin's nest

A satire on the Van Buren administration's involvement in New York State politics. Although the precise context of the cartoon is unclear, specific reference is made to Van Buren's alliance with postmaster gene... more

Old Iron Sides on a lee shore The U.S. Frigate Constitution Captn. Ell...

327 U.S. Copyright Office. "Illustrative of a sketch, in the Democratic Review, of May 1839, by the author of "the log of Old Ironsides"." Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1839, by Dow & Duval, ... more

Symptoms of a duel

The second of two particularly well-drawn caricatures by the same artist, on the subject of the 1839 congressional probe of Van Buren's Treasury Department. (See above, nos. 1839-6 through -9.) The inquiry was ... more

Gov. Morton's grand march

An allegorical design on the cover of a piano-music composition dedicated to the newly elected Democratic governor of Massachusetts, Marcus Morton. The illustration's central motif is based on the state seal, s... more

The death of locofocoism

In his satire Johnston celebrates the defeat of "Loco Foco," i.e., radical Democratic interests, in the presidential election of 1840. The "Loco Focos" were the largely working-class constituency who supported... more

North Bend game cock

A Whig campaign print glorifying presidential candidate William Henry Harrison. The title derives from the candidate's farm on the North Bend of the Ohio River. The game cock has a dual significance: as an all... more

Loco Foco consternation or the orful kat-ass-trophe

Another satire on the Glentworth scandal controversy, by the same artist as "The Last Card," "Evenhanded Justice," and "O. K." (nos. 1840-60, -62, and -63). Here the artist lampoons Democratic efforts to sensat... more

Full tilt for the Capitol

The artist envisions public repudiation of Democratic hard-money policies, and the triumph of administration opponent Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, a conservative Democrat. Tallmadge, on horseback and armed with a l... more

National democratic republican nomination

This record contains unverified data from PGA shelflist card. Associated name on shelflist card: Endicott

Democratic simplicity or the arrival of our favourite son

A satirical attack on alleged excesses in the Van Buren administration and on the President's Loco Foco or radical Democratic supporters in New York. Martin Van Buren rides past New York's Tammany Hall in a lu... more

The trap sprung! The kinderhook fox caught!

A parody of Democratic efforts to reelect incumbent Martin Van Buren in the face of broad popular support for Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. The print is a crude woodcut evidently based on Napoleon Saro... more

The new era Whig trap sprung

Democratic efforts to reelect Martin Van Buren are portrayed as hopeless in the face of broad popular support for Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. Here one of Harrison's campaign emblems, a log cabin, is ... more

Martin Van Buren Papers: Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-185...

Trouble in the Spartan ranks. Old Durham in the field

A complex and somewhat obscure satire celebrating the defeat of Dorrite Democrats in the Rhode Island state elections of spring 1843. The canvass was held the year following the successful suppression of the Do... more

The great American steeple chase for 1844

An imaginative and elaborate parody on the upcoming 1844 presidential campaign. The artist favors Whig nominee-apparent Henry Clay and is highly critical of incumbent John Tyler. The "chase" for the presidency ... more

Martin Van Buren Papers: Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-185...

[Solomon Weathersbee Downs, half-length portrait, three-quarters to th...

Democratic Senator from Louisiana, 1847-1853.

Footrace, Pennsylvania Avenue. Stakes $25,000

The race for a $25,000 prize (the president's salary) is a metaphor for the 1844 campaign. The favored contender here is Henry Clay. The other runners are James K. Polk and John Tyler, while commentaries are of... more

Sale of dogs

Seeking a middle course between the issues of the annexation of Texas on one hand and abolitionism on the other, Van Buren lost the support of southern Democrats, including elderly statesman Andrew Jackson. Her... more

[Stephen Arnold Douglas, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to left...

Democratic Congressman from Illinois, 1843-1847; Senator, 1847-1861. Hallmark: J ROUSSEAU & CO. Written on back of plate: Douglas Facing the light / H. Pfister. Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press, 1978,... more

[Ezra Bartlett French, half-length portrait, facing front]

Democratic congressman from Ohio, 1813-1816; U.S. Postmaster General, 1823-1829; Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1829-1861. Scratched on back of plate: 119. Hallmark: 40M. Formerly identified as Ez... more

The hunter of Kentucky

Henry Clay is the hunter, and various Democrats his quarry. Clay wears a fringed buckskin outfit and coonskin cap reminiscent of Davy Crockett and the Western characters of the contemporary stage, such as Nimro... more

Governors race in New Jersey. Young Hyson riding over the backs of the...

A satire on the New Jersey gubernatorial campaign of 1844, centering on a major issue of the race--extension of the Camden and Amboy Railroad. The Whig candidate, New Jersey native Charles C. Stratton, campaign... more

[Aaron Vanderpoel, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left, w...

Democratic Congressman from New York, 1833-1837, 1839-1841. Scratched on back of plate: 160; Judge Vanderpool. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Lib... more

[Joseph Vance, half-length portrait, slightly to the left]

Democratic Congressman from Ohio, 1822-1835; Governor, 1836-1838; Whig Congressman, 1843-1847. Scratched on face of plate: 165. Scratched on back of plate: 285; Gov. Vance, Ohio. Transfer; U.S. War College; 192... more

[Jeremiah Clemens, half-length portrait, facing front]

Democratic Senator from Alabama, 1849-1853. Scratched on back of plate: 151; Sen. Clemens, Indiana. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Con... more

Not a drum was heard nor a funeral note . . .

The erosion of Democratic support for presidential hopeful Martin Van Buren is portrayed as the funeral of "the Kinderhook fox." The print was deposited for copyright on May 22, 1844, one week before the Democr... more

[George Wallace Jones, half-length portrait, three-quarters to left, e...

Democratic Senator from Iowa, 1848-1859.

Treeing coons

One of the few satires sympathetic to the Democrats to appear during the 1844 presidential contest. Democratic presidential nominee James Polk is portrayed as a buckskinned hunter who has treed "coons" Henry Cl... more

The two bridges

As in "Texas Coming In" (no. 1844-28), a bridge over Salt River is the central motif, making the difference between the Whigs' successful crossing to the "Presidential Chair" and the disastrous route taken by t... more

Matty meeting the Texas question

A satire on the Democrats' approach to the delicate question of the annexation of Texas. In marked contrast to his portrayal of the issue as a beautiful woman in "Virtuous Harry" (no. 1844-27), the artist here ... more

[Levi Woodbury, half-length portrait, head three-quarters to the right...

Governor of New Hampshire, 1823-1824; Democratic Senator, 1825-1831, 1841-1845; Secretary of the Navy, 1831-1834; Secretary of the Treasury, 1834-1841; Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1845-1851. Sc... more

For President: James K. Polk, of Tennessee. For Vice President: George...

A Democratic election ticket for the 1844 presidential campaign, issued sometime between May 29, when Polk received the Democratic nomination, and the November canvass. The ticket names the party's eight electo... more

[Daniel Dickinson, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to the left, ...

Democratic Senator from New York, 1844-1851.

Patent Democratic Republican steam shaving shop

A cryptic satire possibly dealing with some facet of the 1844 presidential campaign. The print features two unsuccessful aspirants for the Democratic presidential nomination: Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Joh... more

[James Duncan, three-quarters to the right, in military uniform]

Colonel, U.S. Army. Alternative identification: Col. Joseph Duncan, Illinois. Scratched on back of plate: 328; Col. Duncan. Written in pencil on back of plate: Col. James Duncan. Hallmark: 40. Identification fr... more

[Israel T. Hatch, half-length portrait, slightly to right, eyes front]

Democratic Congressman from New York, 1857-1859. Scratched on face of plate: 189: Hatch. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Pro... more

[Howell Cobb, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the right]

Democratic Congressman from Georgia, 1843-1851, 1855-1857; Governor of Georgia, 1851-1853; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1857-1860. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Dague... more

[Henry Clay, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the left...

Republican Senator from Kentucky, 1806-1807, 1810-1811; Congressman, 1811-1814, 1815-1821, 1823-1825; U.S. Secretary of State, 1825-1829; Whig Senator, 1831-1842, 1849-1852; Democratic Republican candidate for ... more

[John Van Buren, half-length portrait, three-quarters to left]

Democratic congressman from New York, 1841-1843; son of President Martin Van Buren. Scratched on back of plate: 75; 133. Hallmark: [asterisk] Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of... more

The patriots getting their beans

A satirical view of the scramble among newly elected President James K. Polk's 1844 campaign supporters, or "patriots," for "their beans," i.e., patronage and other official favors. Polk (upper right) sits in t... more

The coon party crossing Cayuga Bridge Novr. 1844. Or the effects of C...

A cartoon on the defeat of Whig Henry Clay in the 1844 presidential election, ascribing his loss of the state of New York to his cousin Cassius M. Clay's campaign tour on his behalf. Oddly, though given promine... more

Polk's dream

Here Clay is critical of James K. Polk's public advocacy of the 54.40 parallel as the northern boundary of American territory in Oregon. The cartoon also alludes to widespread uncertainty as to the course the ... more

Political Jesuitism--or interest versus principle

A virulent attack on Vice-President George M. Dallas, charging the former Pennsylvania attorney and senator with duplicity in his stand on the tariff of 1846. "Jesuitism" was a strong contemporary term for dece... more

Mike Walsh. The people's champion and leader of the yound or progressi...

Print shows Mike Walsh, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right. Includes text listing "a few of the peculiar doctrines of which he is the father and chosen advocate"; also, a facsimile signature.

Who's dat knockin' at de door?

Signed in plate: Hinckley. Title appears as it is written on the item. Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

The Democratic funeral of 1848

Foreseeing political death for the Democrats in the election, the artist imagines a funeral of the party's standard-bearers with a procession of the faithful. Democratic senators (left to right) Sam Houston of ... more

The buffalo hunt

An optimistic view of the presidential prospects of Martin Van Buren, nominated at the Free Soil Party's August 1848 convention in Buffalo, New York. Here Van Buren rides a buffalo and thumbs his nose as he se... more

"Principles, not men." The Democratic candidates for President and Vic...

A large, banner-style campaign poster for the 1848 Democratic ticket. Bust portraits of the two candidates, Cass and Butler, are framed by oak leaves and acorns, symbols of the Democratic party. Above the portr... more

A correct chart of Salt River

"Salt River," the fictitious river of political doom, is charted here as a meandering stream of Democratic misfortunes. The chart was purportedly "prepared by Father Ritchie," i.e., Democratic editor and Polk a... more

Cass & his cabinet in 1849

The satire imputes to the Democrats of 1848, led by candidate Lewis Cass, the corrupt practices of the Van Buren-era party. The artist also criticizes Whig repudiation of stalwart party leader Henry Clay in fav... more

Smoking him out

A humorous commentary on Barnburner Democrat Martin Van Buren's opposition to regular Democratic party nominee Lewis Cass. Van Buren and his son John were active in the Free Soil effort to prevent the extensio... more

The liberty chariot

A burlesque triumphal procession representing victory for the Democratic platform in the election of 1848. In a chariot drawn by Democrats Lewis Cass and William O. Butler (shown as two horses), Uncle Sam drive... more

Zachary Taylor, the people's choice for 12th president

Print shows a Whig campaign banner for the 1848 presidential election. In the center of a facsimile cloth banner is an oval bust portrait of candidate Zachary Taylor in military uniform. Surrounding the oval, o... more

[Charles Hazen Peaslee, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the le...

Democratic Congressman from New Hampshire, 1847-1853. Alternative identification: William King Sebastian, 1814-1865. Scratched on face of plate: 213; Sebastian, Sen. [illegible] Scratched on back of plate: 162.... more

Shooting the Christmas turkey

While Democratic and Whig candidates debate strategies to win the presidency, or "shoot the Christmas turkey," Free Soil candidate Martin Van Buren makes off with the bird. At left Democrat Lewis Cass (facing f... more

[Stephen Arnold Douglas, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to left...

Democratic Congressman from Illinois, 1843-1847; Senator, 1847-1861. Produced possibly by Mathew Brady's studio in New York or Washington; or Alexander Hesler, Chicago. Facing the light / H. Pfister. Washington... more

Letting the last "Democratic Drop."

Position of the Democratic Party in 1852. "Freemen of America, how lon...

A crudely drawn satire bitterly attacking Democratic presidential candidate Franklin Pierce and appealing to the "Freemen of America." The print, possibly executed by a free black, criticizes the Democrats' pla... more

Soliciting a vote

A cynical view of party competition for the working man's vote in the presidential campaign of 1852. In a polling place, four candidates struggle to force their own election ticket on a short, uncouth-looking c... more

The game-cock & the goose

A pro-Whig cartoon showing rival candidates Winfield Scott and Franklin Pierce in a race for the presidency in 1852 before an audience of animated spectators. Scott, in uniform and looking uncharacteristically... more

White Mountains in labour

The artist belittles the Democrats' relatively undistinguished choice for presidential nominee in 1852, Franklin Pierce. The cartoon is based on Aesop's fable about the mountain which, being in labor, groaned s... more

The fish question settled

A facetious, and somewhat racist, look at public opinion surrounding the controversy over American fishing rights in British-controlled waters off North America. (See also "John Bull's Fish Monopoly," no. 1852-... more

Terrible rout & total destruction of the Whig Party. In Salt River

The 1852 Democratic victory under the standard of Franklin Pierce is foreseen as a debacle for the Whig party, led by Winfield Scott. Pierce (center) sits on his horse, holding aloft a banner bearing his and ru... more

Loco Foco candidates travelling, on the canel system

Several prospective Democratic presidential candidates travel along a canal in the "Salt River Barge," named after the proverbial river of political defeat. The passengers are (left to right): Lewis Cass, secre... more

A magnificent offer to a magnificent officer

A cartoon ridiculing Whig nominee Winfield Scott as the pawn of New York antislavery senator William Seward. A member of the "Whig Committee" kneels before Scott and offers him a crown and a bag of money marked... more

Gas and glory

A satire on Franklin Pierce's alleged ineptness as an officer during the Mexican War. There are two scenes. In the left frame, in "New Hampshire," Pierce trains a band of volunteer militia, exhorting them, "Fo... more

Capability and availability

Sharply critical of both the Democratic and Whig choice of presidential candidates in 1852, the artist laments the nomination of two soldiers, Winfield Scott (center) and Franklin Pierce (far right), in prefere... more

Barn-burners in a fix

A satire on the Barnburners, a radical faction of New York State Democrats, led by John Van Buren, whose commitment to social and monetary reforms was likened to a farmer's burning his barn to rid it of rats. H... more

The gladiators of the Senate! The bulley's of the House

The artist parodies recent outbreaks of violence in Congress, and offers a pointed comparison between the elevated rhetorical sparring in the Senate and a more physical brand of combat in the House of Represent... more

A piercing piece of loco foco hocus pocus

The title plays on Franklin Pierce's last name, at the expense of Whig presidential hopefuls Millard Fillmore, Winfield Scott, and Daniel Webster. The print was probably published shortly after the June 1852 Wh... more

Harmony in the wigwam! Democracy of the right brand-y

A comic scene ridiculing the Tammany Democrats of New York City. Tammany headquarters, known as the "Wigwam," here erupts in a drunken fracas over the Democratic platform for the presidential race of 1852. The ... more

[James Cameron Allen, Democrat congressman from Illinois, full-length ...

Young America polka

Sheet music cover for a polka by P. H. Vanderweide, "Dedicated to Capt. Ingraham." Capt. Duncan Nathaniel Ingraham became a popular hero when he interceded with the Turkish government on behalf of Hungarian fre... more

Hon. Thompson Campbell of Ill

Title from unverified information on negative sleeve. Delegate to Democratic Convention Charleston, S.C. 1860. Credit line: Brady-Handy photograph collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Divisio... more

Hon. Benj. G. Brown, MO

Title from unverified information on negative sleeve. Hon. Benj. Grotz Brown; Sen. from MO.; B. 1826- Ky; D. 1885-Mo.; Graduate from Yale 1847; member State H of R- 52-58; Editor of Mo. Democrat 54-59; Commande... more

James Buchanan and Harriet Lane Johnston Papers: Series IV: Additions,...

Liberty, the fair maid of Kansas--in the hands of the "border ruffians...

A bitter indictment of the Democratic administration's responsibility for violence and bloodshed in Kansas in the wake of the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act. (See also "Forcing Slavery Down the Throat of a Freesoiler... more

Shall I vote for ten cents a day?

A campaign parody somewhat favorable to Republican candidate John C. Fremont, but suggesting a conspiracy between Fremont and Millard Fillmore to defeat Democrat James Buchanan. Buchanan's nickname "Ten Cent Ji... more

Letting the last "Democratic drop"

The only obvious portrait in this crudely drawn satire is that of Republican candidate John C. Fremont (right). An emaciated man (center) sits in a chair near an open window. He is apparently James Buchanan, a... more

The "mustang" team

The abolitionist Republican presidential ticket and its supporters in the press are the targets of the cartoon. Candidate Fremont, wearing an emigrant's smock and carrying a cross (an allusion to his rumored Ca... more