How did the donkey and the elephant come to be?

Answer 1

The donkey and the elephant became symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties in the United States during the 19th century. The donkey was popularized by Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign, where opponents labeled him a "jackass," which he embraced as a symbol of the common man. The elephant emerged as a symbol for the Republican Party after a cartoon by Thomas Nast in the 1870s depicted it as representing strength and dignity. Over time, these animals became entrenched in American political culture as representations of their respective parties.