Which statement best describes Thomas Nast?

• A. A general who fought in the Civil War
• B. A senator from New York
• C. A newspaper editor who founded the Times
• D. Cartoonist who depicted Boss Tweed Relentlessly and also created the Donkey and Elephant for modern American political parties

Answer: (D)

This item tests your knowledge of a figure known for shaping political imagery in American history. Thomas Nast was a 19th-century cartoonist who worked for Harper’s Weekly and used his drawings to expose the corruption of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall in New York. Beyond highlighting corruption, his cartoons helped establish enduring political symbols: the donkey for the Democratic Party and the elephant for the Republican Party. He did not found the Times, nor was he a Civil War general or a senator. So describing him as a cartoonist who relentlessly depicted Boss Tweed and helped create the donkey and elephant best captures his historical role and impact.