Happy April Fools Day

Everyone loves a good April Fools joke even during the Civil War.  Published in April 2, 1864, in Harper’s Weekly, Thomas Nast’s drawing titled ‘The First of April, 1864′ is a mix of jokes, making fun of the Civil War, and commenting on politics. In the top corners, there are pictures of Union soldiers playing tricks on each other, like pretending the Confederate Army is close by or blocking their friends’ view of the enemy. In the bottom left, there’s a funny picture of a husband and wife swapping clothes.

In the middle, there are pictures of people sticking signs and objects on each other’s backs without them knowing. In the middle top, Thomas Nast shows his thoughts about the Peace Democrats of the North by drawing them as geese and donkeys.

Thomas Nast, also known as the ‘Father of the American Cartoon,’ was a cartoonist from Germany who lived in America. His cartoons were very influential and helped change people’s minds about important issues. Some of his drawings even helped to bring down a corrupt politician named ‘Boss’ Tweed. His drawings also had an impact on the elections of Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and others. Thomas Nast also created the elephant symbol for the Republican Party and helped shape the way we think of Santa Claus today.