ARTIST: Thomas Nast
PUBLISHER: Published by Harper's Weekly. November 21, 1874.
MEDIUM: Wood engraving,
DATE: 1874.
EDITION SIZE: Image size 13 3/8 x 9" (34 x 22.9 cm).
DESCRIPTION: This cartoon references the political chaos in the Republican party. President Ulysses S. Grant was contemplating running for a third term. It was an unprecedented idea, but entirely legal at the time. Grant's second term had been littered with scandals, however, and the people were tired. So much so that Democrats managed to win a number of seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives earlier that month. Grant would ultimately withdraw his thoughts of running, but the damage had already been done. The economic downturn into the Long Depression wouldn't help matters, either. <br><br> In this cartoon the Republican elephant, representing the Republican voters, tumbles off a cliff when the bridge he was crossing breaks. The broken boards read 'inflation,' 'Repudiation,' 'Reform,' 'Civil Service by Democrats' and 'Southern Claims,' referring to the political issues at the time. The cliff itself is labeled 'Political chaos. Rum. K.K. Repudiation of the National Debt.'
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Good condition.
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