van buren martin

.00001 the value of a unit with four cyphers going before it

A satire on dissension and political intrigue within Andrew Jackson's administration, surrounding the Spring 1831 resignations of several members of his Cabinet. In the center Jackson sits in a collapsing chair... More

"This is the house that Jack built . . ."

Caricature shows Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Francis Blair, William J. Duane, and others, with various animals. A crudely-drawn, anonymous satire on the Jackson Administration, alleging political intrigue... More

The grand national caravan moving east. / drawn by Hassan Straightshan...

A burlesque parade, led by Andrew Jackson and satirizing various aspects of his administration. The procession moves from right to left. At its head is Jackson, seated on a horse with Martin Van Buren cross-le... More

Troubled treasures. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A crudely drawn anti-Jackson satire, applauding Henry Clay's orchestration of Congressional resistance to the President's plan to withdraw Treasury funds from the Bank of the United States. The print also attac... More

The experiment in full operation, Political Cartoon

An anti-Jackson satire, critical of the President's federal treasury policy and of Vice-President Van Buren's influence on the administration's fiscal program. The print specifically attacks Jackson's plan to d... More

Set to between Old Hickory and Bully Nick

Satire on the public conflict between Andrew Jackson and Nicholas Biddle over the future of the Bank of the United States, and the former's campaign to destroy it. The print is sympathetic to Jackson, portrayi... More

"The government." No. 1, [Eye] take the responsibility

A satire on Andrew Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet," the pejorative name given his informal circle of close advisors. The print appeared during the heated controversy incited by Jackson's discontinuation of federal ... More

The political barbecue. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Andrew Jackson is roasted over the fires of "Public Opinion" by the figure of Justice in a cartoon relating to the controversy surrounding Jackson's removal of federal deposits from the Bank of the United State... More

Martin Van Buren Papers: Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-185...

Set-to between the champion old tip & the swell Dutcheman of Kinderhoo...

Satire on the presidential campaign of 1836, portraying the contest as a boxing match between Democratic candidate Martin Van Buren and Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. The artist clearly favors Harrison.... More

All fours-important state of the game-the knave about to be lost

The presidential campaign of 1836 viewed as a card game by a satirist in sympathy with the Whigs. Opposing candidates Martin Van Buren (Democrat) and William Henry Harrison (Whig) face each other across a card... More

Democratic ticket. Going the whole hog

An illustrated election ticket for Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, listing Ohio Democratic electors for the presidential race of 1836. The ticket is illustrated with a small vignette of a man carrying ... More

Democratic ticket. Stop Van!!! - Public domain book illustration

An illustrated election ticket for Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, listing Ohio Democratic electors for the presidential race of 1836. The ticket is illustrated with a small vignette of a man, possibl... More

Grand Virginia reel and scamperdown at the Whitehouse Washington

Another satire on Andrew Jackson's conflict with French king Louis Philippe over French reparations due the United States under the Treaty of 1831. The artist blames vice-president Van Buren for escalation of a... More

Jinnoowine [i.e. "genuine"] Johnson ticket. "Carrying the war into Afr...

An illustrated election ticket for the presidential campaign of 1836. Oddly, the ticket lists Ohio's Democratic electors for Van Buren while making a vicious and obscene slur on the wife of his running-mate Ri... More

High places in government like steep rocks only accessible to eagles a...

Campaign satire predicting Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison's ascendancy over Democrat Martin Van Buren. In the center of the print is a mountain with a statue of George Washington, "Pater Pat... More

General Jackson slaying the many headed monster

A satire on Andrew Jackson's campaign to destroy the Bank of the United States and its support among state banks. Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and Jack Downing struggle against a snake with heads representing the... More

Democratic ticket. Liberty & equal rights

An illustrated election ticket for Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, listing Ohio's Democratic electors for the presidential race of 1836. The ticket is illustrated with a wood-engraving of Van Buren as... More

Grand match between the Kinderhook poney and the Ohio ploughman

A satire on the presidential contest of 1836, using the metaphor of a billiards game between Whig candidate William Henry Harrison (left) and Democrat Martin Van Buren. The artist is clearly on the side of Harr... More

On the way to Araby! - Political cartoon, public domain image

Satire on the Jackson administration's continuing battle against the Bank of the United States. The print was specifically occasioned by the re-chartering of the Bank by the Whig-controlled Pennsylvania Legisla... More

Old Jack in the last agony and the fox caught in a rat trap

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1837, by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, of the Southern District of New York. Printed & published by H.R. Robi... More

Going the whole hog - Public domain book illustration

Martin Van Buren's New York political favorites are represented as piglets suckled by a giant sow "The Empire State." The artist's pointed reference is to the exploitation of New York State by the President and... More

Illustrations of the adventures of the renowned Don Quixote & his doug...

A burlesque history of the Jackson administration, with particular reference to his campaign to destroy the Bank of the United States. The narrative, in a series of twelve episodes, is based on Cervantes's "Don... More

6 cents. Humbug glory bank - Public domain book illustration, Library ...

Another mock bank note parodying the "shinplasters" of the 1837 panic. Such small-denomination notes were based on the division of the Spanish dollar, the dominant specie of the time. Hence they were issued in ... More

New edition of MacBeth. Bank-oh's! Ghost

Another satire on the Panic of 1837, again condemning Van Buren's continuation of predecessor Andrew Jackson's hard-money policies as the source of the crisis. Clay shows the president haunted by the ghost of C... More

Fifty cents. Shin plaster - Public domain scan / drawing

Another mock shinplaster (see also nos. 1837-9 and -10 above). Again the artist attributes the shortage of hard money to the successive monetary programs of presidents Jackson and Van Buren, particularly to the... More

Whig bazaar - Political cartoon, public domain image

Publd. by H.R. Robinson, 52 Cortlandt St. N-York. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1837 by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern Distr... More

Settin' on a rail - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congre...

A satire, probably issued during August or September 1837, on the tug-of-war for influence on the President between Jacksonian Democrats and the "soft money" or conservative elements of the party. Here the arti... More

Uncle Sam sick with la grippe - Drawing. Public domain image.

A satire attributing the dire fiscal straits of the nation to Andrew Jackson's banking policies, with specific reference to recent bank failures in New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia. The artist blames th... More

A dialogue between two well known characters

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1837, by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States of the Southern District of New York. Printed & published by H.R. Robins... More

Treasury note, Washington, D.C., Political Cartoon

A parody of the often worthless fractional currencies or "shinplasters" issued by banks, businesses, and municipalities in lieu of coin. These fractional notes proliferated during the Panic of 1837 with the eme... More

Disturbing a martin's nest - Public domain portrait painting

A satire on the Van Buren administration's involvement in New York State politics. Although the precise context of the cartoon is unclear, specific reference is made to Van Buren's alliance with postmaster gene... More

A peep into futurity, or a picture of 1841

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838 by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the U.S. for the Southern District of New York. Printed & published by H.R. Robinson, 52 C... More

Loco Foco scramble for collectors licenses

Democratic patronage in New York is parodied in a scene of Loco Foco drivers or carmen rushing for cab licenses distributed by recently appointed collector of the port, Democratic stalwart Jesse Hoyt. Hoyt repl... More

The globe man listening to Webster's speech, on the specie circular

A small, bust-length caricature of Washington "Globe" editor and Van Buren adviser Francis Preston Blair. The print was probably issued in the spring of 1838. In May of that year the Specie Circular, an extreme... More

Sub-treasury system, or Office holders elysium

Printed & published by H.R. Robinson, 52 Cortlandt St., 11 1/2 Wall Street. & 38 Chatham Strt. N.Y. Title appears as it is written on the item. Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

"Sober second thought". Book illustration from Library of Congress

Another of HD's portrayals of the New York tradesman's "sober second thoughts" about his support of Democratic hard-money fiscal policies. (See also "Specie Claws," no. 1838-14.) Both prints touch upon the the ... More

Sub treasurers taking long steps, or The magician broke down

Entered according to Act of Congress, in 1838 by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the U.S. for the Southern District of N.Y. Printed & published by H.R. Robinson, 52 Cortlandt & 11 ... More

The globe-man after hearing of the vote on the Sub-Treasury bill

Evidently a companion to "The Globe Man Listening to Webster's speech on the Specie Circular" (no. 1838-3), the small, bust-length caricature of Democratic editor Francis Preston Blair shows him looking even m... More

Machines for the new pay-tent office

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. Printed & published by H.R. Rob... More

Presentation - Drawing. Public domain image., Political Cartoon

Public domain reproduction of political cartoon, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Martin Van Buren, President of the United States from life & on stone ...

Print shows Martin Van Buren, half-length portrait, facing front; includes facsimile signature. Stamped on verso: 43309. Stamped on verso: L.C. Division of Prints.

The cut direct. Or a scene in high life at Saratoga Springs

One of two prints by "HD" (identified by Weitenkampf and others tentatively as Henry Dacre) based on incidents during President Van Buren's visit to the resort at Saratoga Springs, New York, during the summer o... More

Martin Van Buren, President of the United States from life & on stone ...

Print shows Martin Van Buren, half-length portrait, facing front; includes facsimile signature. Publication date based on copyright statement on item. Forms part of: Popular graphic art print filing series (Li... More

Animal magnetism - A cartoon of a man sitting in a chair talking to an...

A swipe at President Van Buren's independent treasury system and his continuation of the monetary policies of predecessor Andrew Jackson. The artist, clearly in sympathy with the Whigs, links corruption in the ... More

Full tilt for the Capitol - Public domain book illustration

The artist envisions public repudiation of Democratic hard-money policies, and the triumph of administration opponent Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, a conservative Democrat. Tallmadge, on horseback and armed with a l... More

Caricature, An interesting family, public domain cartoon image

A caricature of Martin Van Buren as an opossum. The marsupial, with a smirking Van Buren's head, rises on its hindquarters and displays in its pouch three of its "young." They are administration insiders (left... More

Going up Salt River - Public domain book illustration, Library of Cong...

Political cartoons friendly to Van Buren were the rare exception during the 1840 campaign. Here the artist parodies the exploitation by Whig politicians of populist candidate William Henry Harrison. Martin Van ... More

Matty's dream. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Clay portrays Martin Van Buren driven from the White House by nightmares of cider barrels and Whig presidential challenger William Henry Harrison. Van Buren flees the presidential mansion in his nightshirt, dro... More

The new era Whig trap sprung - Public domain scan / drawing

Democratic efforts to reelect Martin Van Buren are portrayed as hopeless in the face of broad popular support for Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. Here one of Harrison's campaign emblems, a log cabin, is ... More

Matty's perilous situation up Salt River

A pro-Whig satire on the presidential campaign of 1840. Martin Van Buren is neck-deep in the waters of "Salt River," a colloquial term for political misfortune or failure. He sinks under the weight of boxes m... More

The new era or the effects of a standing army

A condemnation of a Van Buren administration plan, put forward by Secretary of War Joel Poinsett, to reform the militia system through creation of a reserve force under regular army officers. The idea was attac... More

Cutting down the hickory tree and disturbing the crow's nest

Figurative portrayal of Whig opposition to the independent treasury or subtreasury system conceived by Jackson and implemented by Van Buren and the Democrats. In a large tree is a nest labeled "Sub Treasury" i... More

Loco Foco and nulification nuptials, Political Cartoon

A satire on the surprising alliance, forged early in the presidential campaign of 1840, between the Van Buren administration and southern or "nullification" Whigs in the circle of John Calhoun. At left editor ... More

Democratic simplicity or the arrival of our favourite son

A satirical attack on alleged excesses in the Van Buren administration and on the President's Loco Foco or radical Democratic supporters in New York. Martin Van Buren rides past New York's Tammany Hall in a lu... More

The North Bend farmer and his visitors

A slanderous portrayal of Democratic tactics against Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison. The supposedly insidious and high-living Van Buren and his minions suffer by comparison to the Whig cand... More

A hard road to hoe! Or, the White House Turnpike, macadamized by the ...

A crude satire on the obstacles facing Van Buren's reelection effort in 1840. Weighed down by a large bundle labeled "Sub Treasury," Van Buren follows the lead of Andrew Jackson toward the White House. His wa... More

The fox chace. Book illustration from Library of Congress

The artist's portrayal of Harrison's rout of Van Buren reflects strong Whig confidence late in the presidential campaign of 1840. Van Buren is shown as a fox, with a bird (an albatross?) labeled "Treasury" aro... More

All the West going for Matty - Public domain book illustration, Librar...

A Whig cartoon spoofing Democratic claims of Western support for Van Buren during the election of 1840. Pursued by animals from the "Alleghany Mountains" and the Mississippi River, including among others a buf... More

The almighty lever. Book illustration from Library of Congress

E. W. Clay's apocalyptic allegory has public opinion as a giant lever, tilting decisively in favor of the Whigs late in the presidential campaign of 1840. In a symbolic landscape masses of people climb onto the... More

The ship of state on a lee shore, experienced hands coming to her res...

The artist forecasts a Whig electoral victory and dramatizes the politically ruinous effects of Van Buren's fiscal policy and his alignment with Loco Foco forces in New York. Whig candidate William Henry Harri... More

The trap sprung! The kinderhook fox caught!

A parody of Democratic efforts to reelect incumbent Martin Van Buren in the face of broad popular support for Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. The print is a crude woodcut evidently based on Napoleon Saro... More

Rats quitting the ship - Public domain book illustration, Library of C...

Postmaster general Amos Kendall's 1840 resignation prompted the artist's speculation on the desertion of other Van Buren cabinet members. Kendall resigned on May 16, to concentrate on editing the "Extra Globe,"... More

The little magician's sleight of hand performance. An absquabulating s...

Again the theme of corruption in the Van Buren administration, here centering on the President's "Sub-Treasury" or independent treasury program, passed by Congress in July 1840. A large frigate "United States,... More

Black C.C. or the three Judas's

The cartoon pertains to some instance of corruption in the Van Buren administration. Van Buren shovels coins from a great pile into a bag held by a man (probably a federal judge), who urges him, "Matty fill up... More

[Former President Martin Van Buren, half-length portrait, facing right...

LC-BH824-5239. Public domain photograph - Portrait, United States, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Granny Harrison delivering the country of the executive Federalist

A satire on the Van Buren administration challenged by Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison. Harrison, dressed as a woman, tries to remove Van Buren from his throne with a midwife's forceps. Van... More

Martin Van Buren Papers: Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-185...

The presidents of the United States designed by C.H.H. Billings ; engr...

Print showing vignette portraits of presidents John Adams thru John Tyler arranged around a central figure portrait of George Washington, full-length, standing, facing front, with right hand on table; the portr... More

The presidents of the United States designed by C.H.H. Billings ; engr...

Print shows the presidents of the United States with George Washington (G. Stuart del.) at center, John Adams (G. Stuart del.) at top, Thomas Jefferson (G. Stuart del.) on the top left, James Madison (G. Stuart... More

The presidents of the United States designed by C.H.H. Billings ; engr...

Print shows the presidents of the United States with George Washington (G. Stuart del.) at center, John Adams (G. Stuart del.) at top, Thomas Jefferson (G. Stuart del.) on the top left, James Madison (G. Stuart... More

Martin Van Buren Papers: Series 3, Additional Correspondence, 1811-185...

The mountain in labor - Public domain book illustration, Library of Co...

The artist employs Aesop's fable about the mountain which was said to be in labor, its dreadful groans attracting expectant crowds only to be disappointed when it issued forth a small mouse. Here the mountain i... More

Sold for want of use - Public domain book illustration, Library of Con...

Bucholzer again uses animal characterizations to poke fun at the respective faults of prominent Democrats in the 1844 presidential race. In an interior, Whig nominee Henry Clay conducts a livestock auction, off... More

A peep at the future - Public domain book illustration, Library of Con...

A Whig fantasy on the supposed outcome of the 1844 election. Here Henry Clay and Theodore Frelinghuysen occupy the White House. They watch from a window as John Tyler plays a hand organ and leads a group of mi... More

Treeing coons - Political cartoon, public domain image

One of the few satires sympathetic to the Democrats to appear during the 1844 presidential contest. Democratic presidential nominee James Polk is portrayed as a buckskinned hunter who has treed "coons" Henry Cl... More

The two bridges - Political cartoon, public domain image

As in "Texas Coming In" (no. 1844-28), a bridge over Salt River is the central motif, making the difference between the Whigs' successful crossing to the "Presidential Chair" and the disastrous route taken by t... More

Fight between the Kentucky coon & the Tennessee alligator

A woodland fantasy satirizing the prominent figures of the 1844 election campaign. The artist again favors Whig candidate Henry Clay, the "Kentucky Coon," who is shown overwhelming Democrat James K. Polk, the ... More

Polk & Co. Going up Salt River - Public domain book illustration, Libr...

The artist foresees a Democratic defeat in the 1844 presidential election. Party figures Martin Van Buren, Thomas Hart Benton, vice-presidential candidate George M. Dallas, Andrew Jackson, and presidential nomi... More

Not a drum was heard nor a funeral note . . .

The erosion of Democratic support for presidential hopeful Martin Van Buren is portrayed as the funeral of "the Kinderhook fox." The print was deposited for copyright on May 22, 1844, one week before the Democr... More

The hunter of Kentucky - coin, public domain photograph

Henry Clay is the hunter, and various Democrats his quarry. Clay wears a fringed buckskin outfit and coonskin cap reminiscent of Davy Crockett and the Western characters of the contemporary stage, such as Nimro... More

Cleansing the Augean stable - Public domain book scan / drawing

A pro-Whig satire, envisioning the cleansing of the "Augean Stable" of government corruption by presidential candidate Henry Clay and other Whigs. The title derives from one of the twelve mythical labors of Her... More

The little magician invoked - Public domain book scan / drawing

Martin Van Buren, known as "the Little Magician" for his remarkable political agility, summons spirits to divine the Democratic or "Loco Foco" prospects for election in 1844. He sits in an astrological circle, ... More

Footrace, Pennsylvania Avenue. Stakes $25,000, Political Cartoon

The race for a $25,000 prize (the president's salary) is a metaphor for the 1844 campaign. The favored contender here is Henry Clay. The other runners are James K. Polk and John Tyler, while commentaries are of... More

Matty meeting the Texas question, Political Cartoon

A satire on the Democrats' approach to the delicate question of the annexation of Texas. In marked contrast to his portrayal of the issue as a beautiful woman in "Virtuous Harry" (no. 1844-27), the artist here ... More

Sale of dogs - Political cartoon, public domain image

Seeking a middle course between the issues of the annexation of Texas on one hand and abolitionism on the other, Van Buren lost the support of southern Democrats, including elderly statesman Andrew Jackson. Her... More

Patent Democratic Republican steam shaving shop

A cryptic satire possibly dealing with some facet of the 1844 presidential campaign. The print features two unsuccessful aspirants for the Democratic presidential nomination: Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Joh... More

Matty taking his second bath in Salt River

A satire published before the Democratic convention, predicting would-be presidential nominee Martin Van Buren's second "bath in Salt River" (the first one being his unsuccessful bid for reelection in 1840). O... More

Weighed & found wanting, or the effects of a summer's ramble

Possibly by Henry Dacre. Printed & published by H.R. Robinson, no. 52 Cortlandt St. N.Y. Signed in plate: HD. Title appears as it is written on the item. Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Lib... More

Political cock fighters. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A figurative portrayal of the 1844 presidential contest as a cock-fight, in which Whig candidate Henry Clay prevails. Clay and Democratic opponent Polk battle in a pit or ring as several prominent political fi... More

Who's dat knockin' at de door? - Political cartoon, public domain imag...

Signed in plate: Hinckley. Title appears as it is written on the item. Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

"Misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows"

A satire on the unlikely alliance of rival editors Horace Greeley and James Watson Webb in support of Zachary Taylor for the presidency in 1848. Unlike Webb, one of Taylor's earliest and most enthusiastic New Y... More

Who says gas? Or the Democratic b-hoy

A pro-Democrat satire, pitting Democratic candidate Lewis Cass against Whig nominee Zachary Taylor in a bout for the presidency. Cass (center) is the obvious favorite. He wears the stovepipe hat, boots, bold pl... More

Cass & his cabinet in 1849 - Political cartoon, public domain image

The satire imputes to the Democrats of 1848, led by candidate Lewis Cass, the corrupt practices of the Van Buren-era party. The artist also criticizes Whig repudiation of stalwart party leader Henry Clay in fav... More

The modern Gilpins. Love's labor lost

A parody of Democratic politics in the months preceding the party's 1848 national convention. Specifically, the artist ridicules the rivalry within the party between Free Soil or anti-slavery interests, which u... More

Grand set to between rough and ready and Genal. Gas

Zachary Taylor and Lewis Cass engage in a bout of fisticuffs in their battle for the presidency in 1848. Taylor, clearly getting the better of his opponent, seizes Cass by the lapels saying, "A little more gra... More

Fording Salt River. Book illustration from Library of Congress

An election-year satire favoring Free Soil candidate Martin Van Buren in the 1848 presidential contest. A long-legged John Van Buren carries his father piggyback through Salt River, heading toward the White Ho... More

Bagging the game. Book illustration from Library of Congress

The artist predicts a decisive Whig victory in the presidential election of 1848, with Whig candidate Zachary Taylor "bagging" all of the states in an electoral sweep. (Taylor actually carried only fifteen of t... More

The fox hunt. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Again Van Buren's flirtation with radical interests is portrayed as his downfall. As in "The Modern Colossus" (no. 1848-56) antislavery activist Abby Folsom (here "Abby Fulsome") is prominently featured. Here s... More

The buffalo hunt - Drawing. Public domain image.

An optimistic view of the presidential prospects of Martin Van Buren, nominated at the Free Soil Party's August 1848 convention in Buffalo, New York. Here Van Buren rides a buffalo and thumbs his nose as he se... More