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They didn't so much choose it as decided to go along with what someone else was using to represent them.
The first time the donkey was used in connection with the Democratic party was during Andrew Jackson's presidential campaign when his opponents tried to label him a "jackass" (Jackson the jackass). Jackson turned it around and used it as his own symbol on his campaign posters. His opponents used it again to characterize his stubbornness in refusing to re-charter the national bank. It got dredged up again after he left office but still though of himself as the leader of the Democratic party. In a political cartoon, Jackson was shown trying to get the donkey to go where he wanted it to go. The cartoon, published in 1837, was titled "A Modern Baalim and his Ass." In this case the donkey was representing the Democratic party rather than Jackson - the first time the donkey actually represented the party rather than a member of the party.
Years later (starting around 1870) the famous political cartoonist Thomas Nast used a donkey to represent the Democratic party and party members in his Cartoons. His cartoons are also established the Elephant as the symbol of the Republican party. It is unlikely that Nast ever saw the Jackson cartoons since he didn't emigrate to the US with his parents until 1940 when he was six.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThey don't. The Democrats (Democratic Party of the US) use a donkey and the Republicans (Republican Party or GOP) are symbolized by an elephant.
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What is the former mascot for the democratic party?
The former democratic mascot is a rooster
What is the emblem of the Democratic Party?
The main political symbol for the US Democratic Party is the donkey, ideally incorporating at least a couple of stars and the colors red, white and blue. A couple of years ago, the Democratic Party tried out a new logo, of a white letter D on a blue background, meant to evoke D for Drive versus R for Reverse, but its public reception was underwhelming. Most people know it only from Jon Stewart's ridicule. Thus, for the time being, they're sticking with the donkeys.
Who first used the donkey to symbolize the democratic party and an elephant to symbolize the republican party?
Thomas Nast
Why is the democrat party symbol an ass?
It is a donkey and the now-famous Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Later, cartoonist Thomas Nast used the Democratic donkey in newspaper cartoons and made the symbol famous.
What state was the Democratic Party founded in?
Who started the Democratic Party? Who started the Democratic Party?
What is the Mascot for democratic party?
A DonkeyA Donkey
What animals and colors are used to represent each major political party?
The Donkey is the Democratic mascot and the Elephant is the Republican mascot.
Are Republicans donkeys?
The donkey is the "mascot" of the democratic party. Democrats themselves are not the donkey, it's just the symbol for their group.. I'm sure you already know that.
What is the former mascot for the democratic party?
The former democratic mascot is a rooster
What animal symbolizes the Democratic Party?
The donkey
What animal represent the democrats.?
The Donkey is the symbol of the Democrat Party.
Which of these represents the Democratic Party A The Donkey B the Elephant?
a DONKEY
Why is the democratic party an elephant?
its a DONKEY!
What is the Democrat symbol?
o
What is the Republican Party mascot?
An elephant.
What was the symbol for the Democratic Party before the donkey?
There was no symbol prior to the donkey.
What does the elephant and donkey stand for in the congress?
Elephant = Republican Political Party Donkey = Democratic Political Party
