Changes

==Career==

==Career==

[[File:Artoon.jpg|thumb|right|''Tis But a Change of Banners'': Nast notes the Democrats as the party of the First [[Ku Klux Klan]].]]

[[File:Artoon.jpg|thumb|right|''Tis But a Change of Banners'': Nast notes the Democrats as the party of the First [[Ku Klux Klan]].]]

During the [[American Civil War]], Nast solidly supported the Union.<ref name=thoughtcobio>McNamara, Robert (April 5, 2017). [https://www.thoughtco.com/thomas-nast-1773654 Thomas Nast]. ''ThoughtCo.'' Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref> His cartoons at Harper's Weekly would attack those opposed to the war efforts (namely [[Copperheads]], or "Peace Democrats"<ref>Glass, Andrew (January 15, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/15/this-day-in-politics-jan-15-1870-339085 Dems' donkey rears its head in political cartoon, Jan. 15, 1870]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>) against the [[Confederacy]], and condemned [[slavery]].<ref name=britannicabio/> President [[Abraham Lincoln]] referred to Nast as:<ref name=britannicabio/>

During the [[American Civil War]], Nast solidly supported the Union.<ref name=thoughtcobio>McNamara, Robert (April 5, 2017). [https://www.thoughtco.com/thomas-nast-1773654 Thomas Nast]. ''ThoughtCo.'' Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref> His cartoons at ''Harper's Weekly'' would attack those opposed to the war efforts (namely [[Copperheads]], or "Peace Democrats"<ref>Glass, Andrew (January 15, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/15/this-day-in-politics-jan-15-1870-339085 Dems' donkey rears its head in political cartoon, Jan. 15, 1870]. ''Politico''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>) against the [[Confederacy]], and condemned [[slavery]].<ref name=britannicabio/> President [[Abraham Lincoln]] referred to Nast as:<ref name=britannicabio/>

{{cquote|...our best recruiting sergeant.}}

{{cquote|...our best recruiting sergeant.}}

===Support for Chinese immigrants===

===Support for Chinese immigrants===

Nast's cartoons at Harper's Weekly frequently and consistently sympathized with the plight of Chinese immigrants to the United States who often faced racial discrimination and violence.<ref>Walfred, Michele (January 29, 2016). [https://thomasnastcartoons.com/2016/01/29/justice-for-the-chinese-27-march-1886/ “Justice for the Chinese” 1886]. ''Thomas Nast Cartoons''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>

Nast's cartoons at ''Harper's Weekly'' frequently and consistently sympathized with the plight of Chinese immigrants to the United States who often faced racial discrimination and violence.<ref>Walfred, Michele (January 29, 2016). [https://thomasnastcartoons.com/2016/01/29/justice-for-the-chinese-27-march-1886/ “Justice for the Chinese” 1886]. ''Thomas Nast Cartoons''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>

===Opposition towards Garfield, 1880===

===Opposition towards Garfield, 1880===

During the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 presidential election]], [[Half-Breed]] dark house candidate [[James A. Garfield]] was nominated by the party convention to become the nominee in the general election. Nast resentment for Garfield's corruption and opposition towards [[Radical Republican]]-favored positions, in addition to his friendship with Democrat nominee Winfield S. Hancock, led to his support for the latter.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/>

During the [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 presidential election]], [[Half-Breed]] dark house candidate [[James A. Garfield]] was nominated by the party convention to become the nominee in the general election. Nast resentment for Garfield's corruption and opposition towards [[Radical Republican]]-favored positions, in addition to his friendship with Democrat nominee Winfield S. Hancock, led to his support for the latter.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/>

Nast submitted a cartoon to Harper's Weekly that expressed support for Hancock, which the magazine rejected from publishing.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/> He then drew cartoons that assailed the Democratic Party as a whole while leaving out Hancock from them. This would mark the roots of Nast's increasing rifts with the magazine.

Nast submitted a cartoon to ''Harper's Weekly'' that expressed support for Hancock, which the magazine rejected from publishing.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/> He then drew cartoons that assailed the Democratic Party as a whole while leaving out Hancock from them. This would mark the roots of Nast's increasing rifts with the magazine.

===Nast opposes Blaine, breaks with Harper's Weekly===

===Nast opposes Blaine, breaks with ''Harper's Weekly''===

During the [[United States presidential election, 1884|1884 presidential election]], Nast refused to support corrupt [[Half-Breed]] Republican nominee [[James G. Blaine]],<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/> who he actively despised,<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/item/2010717274/ [James Blaine with "As speaker" and "R.R. jobs" letters sticking out of his back pocket and reaching for "the Mulligan letters" over "Blaine's record" hat<nowiki>]</nowiki>]. ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref> instead joining the GOP [[Mugwump]] faction. His open support for [[Bourbon Democrat]] nominee [[Grover Cleveland]] instead led to disputes with other editors in Harper's Weekly, as well as additional complaints.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/>

During the [[United States presidential election, 1884|1884 presidential election]], Nast refused to support corrupt [[Half-Breed]] Republican nominee [[James G. Blaine]],<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/> who he actively despised,<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/item/2010717274/ [James Blaine with "As speaker" and "R.R. jobs" letters sticking out of his back pocket and reaching for "the Mulligan letters" over "Blaine's record" hat<nowiki>]</nowiki>]. ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref> instead joining the GOP [[Mugwump]] faction. His open support for [[Bourbon Democrat]] nominee [[Grover Cleveland]] instead led to disputes with other editors in ''Harper's Weekly'', as well as additional complaints.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/>

[[File:Thomas Nast 1890s LOC picture.png|thumb|right|220px|Nast in the 1890s.<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a18576/ Thomas Nast b&w film copy neg.] ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>]]

[[File:Thomas Nast 1890s LOC picture.png|thumb|right|220px|Nast in the 1890s.<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3a18576/ Thomas Nast b&w film copy neg.] ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>]]

Nast's breaks with Harper's Weekly editors only increased by 1885 due to differences over image production techniques,<ref name=thoughtcobio/> middle-class cultural shifts, and the Republican Party.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/> His last cartoon published from the magazine was in the following year.<ref name=britannicabio/> Although Nast's works would be published by other journals, they became infrequent.

Nast's breaks with ''Harper's Weekly'' editors only increased by 1885 due to differences over image production techniques,<ref name=thoughtcobio/> middle-class cultural shifts, and the Republican Party.<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/> His last cartoon published from the magazine was in the following year.<ref name=britannicabio/> Although Nast's works would be published by other journals, they became infrequent.

Consequentially, Nast's opposition towards Blaine that handed Cleveland an election victory proved detrimental for Harper's Weekly in addition to his own career and standing. A source stated on the lose-lose outcome:<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/>

Consequentially, Nast's opposition towards Blaine that handed Cleveland an election victory proved detrimental for ''Harper's Weekly'' in addition to his own career and standing. A source stated on the lose-lose outcome:<ref name=illustrationhistorybio/>

{{cquote|In quitting Harper's Weekly, Nast lost his forum; in losing him, Harper's Weekly lost its political importance.}}

{{cquote|In quitting ''Harper's Weekly'', Nast lost his forum; in losing him, ''Harper's Weekly'' lost its political importance.}}

===Death===

===Death===

Nast died in early December 1902 of [[yellow fever]].<ref name=thoughtcobio/> Harper's Weekly published in its obituary on him:<ref>[https://library.osu.edu/site/thomasnast/ Thomas Nast: Prince of Caricaturists]. ''The Ohio State University''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>

Nast died in early December 1902 of [[yellow fever]].<ref name=thoughtcobio/> ''Harper's Weekly'' published in its obituary on him:<ref>[https://library.osu.edu/site/thomasnast/ Thomas Nast: Prince of Caricaturists]. ''The Ohio State University''. Retrieved November 13, 2021.</ref>

{{cquote|He has been called, perhaps not with accuracy, but with substantial justice, the Father of American Caricature.}}

{{cquote|He has been called, perhaps not with accuracy, but with substantial justice, the Father of American Caricature.}}