Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Thomas Nast, "No Rest for the Wicked- Sentenced to More Hard Labor", Harper's Weekly, December 2, 1876

Why Nast Support Cleveland: In His Own Words

Thomas Nast (1840-1902) illustrated his support for Cleveland in the campaigns of 1884 and depicted President Cleveland in political cartoons while he was in office from 1885 to 1887, when Nast left 

. Click through the images to learn more about how Nast illustrated his support for Cleveland. Think about the news article from the previous activity and how Nast's words in that interview align with the images in 

Thomas Nast Illustrates Cleveland's First Campaign- 1884

Student Engagement: Political Cartoon Analysis

This is an illustration from 1884 by political cartoonist Frank Beard (1842-1905) in which Nast is depicted. Beard pokes fun at Nast for jumping ship from the Republican Party to support Grover Cleveland. Click on the stars to learn more about the imagery used by Beard to respond to Nast's change in political allegiance. 

The Response to Nast the Mugwump

BONUS Primary Source Investigation- Thomas Nast Letter to Sarah Nast

Thomas Nast only created six cartoons in January 1887 before he parted ways with

, ending his 25-year tenure. He would again be published in 

 in 1895 creating 14 cartoons from June 15 through October 26 and then again in 1896 drawing just eight more cartoons in January and February. Nast would continue to freelance with other publications until his death in 1902, but he never achieved the popularity and influence he had at 

Click through the image to see a selection of Nast's work post

Thomas Nast: After Harper's Weekly

After completing the full resource kit, answer the questions.

Reflection and Discussion Questions

Grover Cleveland Campaign Badges, 1888, Silk, 55.111A-PP

The Three Campaigns- 1884, 1888, and 1892

Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.  He was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms (1885–1889 and 1893–1897), up until this year when President Donald Trump won the office for a second time. In 1884 Nast, along with 

 editor George Curtis, broke with the Republican Party to support the Democratic Candidate Grover Cleveland.

This Resource Kit explores Nast's illustrations in support of the first two-term President serving non-consecutive terms, his switch from a Republican to a Democrat, and Nast's waning influence as a political cartoonist. 

Educator Overview_Thomas Nast Illustrates Grover Cleveland .pdf

Illustrating Grover Cleveland Answer Key.pdf

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum Website

The 22nd and 24th President: Thomas Nast Illustrates Grover Cleveland

Civics and Government

Social Studies

U.S. History

Visual Arts

The Arts

Governor of New York Grover Cleveland, seated at his desk, and a twenty-six-year-old Theodore Roosevelt are engaging in “their good work” as well-known reformers. Roosevelt, the future 26th President, began his political career in 1881 as a Republican in the New York State Assembly. 
Nast groups these two future presidents together because of their careers in New York politics and dedication to reform policies, even though Roosevelt was a Republican and Cleveland a Democrat.

1. Reform Without Bloodshed.jpg

Reform Without Bloodshed

The caption reads, “This Year Do Your Duty Like a Man,” as President Cleveland send his New-Year messenger forward with the money bag of $1 million for the Freedmen’s Bank depositors. They were waiting for their payment for 13 years after the bank failed.

IMG_1052.jpg

The President's New-Year Messenger

Or, to put in sports terms, would you support a rival football team because you like their new quarterback instead of the one you've supported longer?

Nast portrays President-elect Grover Cleveland as a strong political force. He holds a club to fight off the approaching Democratic Tiger. Cleveland wears the skin of a tiger, symbolizing the taking down of Tammany Hall. He stands ready to hit the approaching tiger with a club labeled “Independent” underscoring his position as not beholden to the Democratic pollical machine. The caption reads:

“Ability and zeal in the service will be the measures of usefulness. The rules of the Civil Service Commission will govern all minor appointments.”- Grover Cleveland. 

One of Cleveland’s campaign promises was to appoint people to office on merit and not political affiliation. Nast wants Cleveland to hold true to this promise of Civil Service reform. 


Resource Kits

Object Library

Museums

The 22nd and 24th President: Thomas Nast Illustrates Grover Cleveland

Reflection and Discussion Questions

Reflection

What do you think of Nast's decision to switch political parties?