Symbolism in relation to any party, team, or logo is usually thoroughly thought through, drawings are rendered and voted on, colors are chosen for their implied meanings (or they are just complimentary on the color wheel,) and each shape, animal, or mineral are subjected to rigorous market testing. Then finally, after much deliberation, a well-crafted representation is presented to the public to be seen as a symbol of that particular political party, sports team, or business.

So, in this current political climate, we look to symbols that have defined two major political parties for over a hundred years. But what are the origins of these animalistic representations? Were they carefully thought through, chosen for their implied character and crafted as a well-meaning symbol of each party’s beliefs? Or, what seems to be the current feeling among the voting public, a perpetual joke cast upon the masses?

The answer may not surprise many of you.

The origins of the Republican Elephant and the Democratic Donkey can be traced back to a political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who published in Harper’s Magazine from 1862-1886. We can all agree that those were tumultuous times for the United States, and Nast took to portraying that extremely divisive political climate through drawings and humor. The first time he associated the donkey with the Democratic Party was in January 1870, and the image seemed to stick. But it was not the first time the donkey was used to symbolize the party.

The donkey was first affiliated with the Democratic party in 1828, when opponents of Andrew Jackson would speak of him in not-so-polite terms in reference to this animal. Andrew Jackson embraced and re-branded the donkey, highlighting the qualities of “steadfast, determined, and willful,” instead of  the inherent stubbornness usually depicted in popular culture. The donkey was not immediately adopted by the party, however, until Nast created the resurgence of the symbol in 1870. There have been many literary and religious references to donkeys throughout the past few millennia, ever since donkeys were first domesticated as pack animals. These references also range in tone from positive to negative, determined by the country of origin, the context of the story, and the time period of the piece.

Thomas Nast first depicted the “Republican vote” as an elephant in a political cartoon published in 1874. While his choice of animal was not quite clear, the inspiration may have come from a now-lost colloquialism, “Seeing the Elephant,” a phrase coined in 1861 in reference to going to war. It may also have been a reference to the strength of the animal, though it has an inclination to panic when afraid. In China, India, and Africa the elephant is seen as a symbol of power, dignity, intelligence, and peace. I’m sure everyone has heard the saying, “An elephant never forgets.” While that saying has never been thoroughly proven, the adage of elephants being afraid of mice has been.

While neither animal is indigenous to the United States, their subsequent association to the two largest political parties in the land makes them easily recognizable to the rest of the world. Although, at first, these depictions were meant as political satire, they have come to represent a hundred years of political debates and elections. If these symbols were meant as a joke, the original intent seems to have come to fruition. Perhaps, the current political parties should strive to embrace the more noble characteristics of their adopted mascots.

While we should not judge either candidate based on their animal affiliations (nor judge the animals based on whichever party they are associated with,) we should however judge the candidates based on facts. So before you vote this November, do your research. Be informed. Check your sources. And don’t just take someone else’s opinion for your vote.