A Political Movement
date: label: Date made
content: n.d.
name: label: depicted
content: Van Buren, Martin
label: depicted
content: Harrison, William Henry
label: depicted
content: Tyler, John
label: depicted
content: Benton, Thomas Hart
label: depicted
content: Calhoun, John Caldwell
label: depicted
content: Blair, Francis Preston
label: depicted
content: Woodbury, Levi
label: artist
content: Dacre, Henry
label: maker
content: Robinson, Henry R.
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This undated caricature of outgoing president, Martin Van Buren depicts the president seated in a cart on top of three large sacks labeled, “Globe,” “Mint Drops,” and “Solitary and Alone.” These along with the dog labeled “Cuba” under the cart represent the negative aspects of Martin Van Buren’s presidency including the Panic of 1837 and desire to establish an Independent Treasury System, the pro-Democrat propaganda paper “The Globe,” and the Amistad case involving Spain and the legality of slavery. On the cart, is a throne, crown, and scepter, an illusion to the tyrannical rule of Andrew Jackson—Van Buren’s predecessor and close advisor. Four men are shown moving the cart: Missouri Senator Thomas H. Benton, Treasury Secretary Levi Woodbury, and South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun are on the left pulling, and "Globe" Editor, Francis Preston Blair is on the right pushing. These four men were all closely aligned with both Jackson and Van Buren; their support for both the Democratic Party and its policies tarnished their political careers. Standing to the right of the cart on the steps of the White House, is newly elected president, William Henry Harrison and his Vice President, John Tyler. Both Harrison and Tyler were members of the Whig Party. The “Notice to Quit” in Tyler’s hand represents the Whig Party’s win in the Election of 1840 and Van Buren’s removal from office after just one term. Van Buren laments his loss saying: “this the reward for all of my patriotic service,” an ironic sentence given the failures he is symbolically sitting upon.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The lithographer of this print is Henry Dacre. Dacre was born in England, but worked for the lithographer, P.S. Duval in Philadelphia from 1847 to 1850.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The publisher of this print is Henry R. Robinson (1827-1877). Robinson worked in New York, and had a store to sell his prints. In 1842, he was arrested for selling obscene pictures and books leading to the September 28, 1842 court case, People vs H. R. Robinson found in the District Attorney Indictment Papers, Municipal Archives. He was politically affiliated with the anti-Jackson Whig party which was made obvious by the wig silhouette used in 1838 as an advertising logo for his shop.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
label: depicted
content: United States: District of Columbia, White House
topic: label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, executive branch
label: Subject
content: Furnishings
label: Subject
content: Architecture, Historic Residences
label: Subject
content: Communication, newspapers
label: Subject
content: Diplomacy
label: Subject
content: Pets
label: Subject
content: Carriages
label: Subject
content: Political Caricatures
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Peters Political Prints
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content: Art
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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.60.3330
label: catalog number
content: 60.3330
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 9 1/4 in x 15 in; 23.495 cm x 38.1 cm