A Speciael Labourer Working up Hill
date: label: Date made
content: n.d.
name: label: depicted
content: Jackson, Andrew
label: depicted
content: Van Buren, Martin
label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This undated print most likely refers to the Panic of 1837. In this print, President Martin Van Buren is depicted pulling a sled laden with boxes labeled “speciel” in reference to the 1836 Specie Circular. The Specie Circular was an executive order made by President Andrew Jackson at the end of his presidency, and it mandated that all land purchases be made in gold or silver. This weakened the buying power of paper currency, and caused the Panic of 1837 as banks collapsed due to the new regulations. Van Buren is depicted making his way uphill towards Andrew Jackson who is standing at the top, shouting encouragements to his former Vice President. Jackson is standing next to a lighthouse in this print, acting as a symbol for his guidance and influence over Van Buren. Van Buren carried into his presidency the burden of many Jackson Administration, and due to that the, blame for the Panic of 1837 and the impact of the Specie Circular are placed on Van Buren. In the background, a ship labeled “$250,000 Specie” is exploding, most likely in reference to the safety fund that was supposed to protect banks, but ultimately failed due to the widespread impact of the financial crisis.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The artist of this print is unknown.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: World
topic: label: Subject
content: Economy
label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, executive branch
label: Subject
content: Diplomacy
label: Subject
content: Political Caricatures
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
label: See more items in
content: Peters Political Prints
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content: Art
label: See more items in
content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.3421
label: catalog number
content: 60.3421
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 11 5/8 in x 14 3/4 in; 29.5275 cm x 37.465 cm