What was the corroboration of The Union As It Was” by Thomas Nast, 1874
"The Union As It Was" by Thomas Nast, published in 1874, was a political cartoon that sought to debunk the idea promoted by Democrats and Southern sympathizers that the Civil War was fought over states' rights rather than slavery. Nast was a prominent political cartoonist of the time and a fierce supporter of the Republican Party and the Union cause.
The cartoon features two contrasting scenes side by side. On the left side, titled "The Blessings of a Republican Vote," Nast portrays a prosperous and peaceful scene in the North, showing a well-dressed and wealthy family enjoying the benefits of a Republican-led government. The scene includes factories, schools, libraries, and a diverse group of people living harmoniously together.
On the right side, titled "The Curse of a Democratic Vote," Nast depicts the chaotic aftermath of Democratic governance, represented by the Reconstruction Era in the post-Civil War South. The scene is characterized by violence, poverty, and ignorance. African Americans are portrayed as oppressed and subject to the Ku Klux Klan's violence, while corrupt politicians and Southern Democrats are shown as promoting racism and voter suppression.
By juxtaposing these two scenes, Nast aimed to challenge the narrative propagated by Southern Democrats that the Confederacy had fought for noble reasons and that the Reconstruction policies were punitive towards the South. His cartoon provided a visual argument that voting for Democratic politicians and their policies would lead to disaster and the erosion of the Union's achievements.
"The Union As It Was" was widely circulated and became one of Nast's most influential and enduring works. It helped shape public opinion by reinforcing the Republican Party's stance on the Civil War and Reconstruction, and further solidifying the public memory of the war as a fight to end slavery and preserve the Union.