Final answer:
The elephant is a long-standing symbol of the Republican Party, introduced by cartoonist Thomas Nast in the 1860s. Political cartoons often represent these party symbols, which play a significant role in American political identity and voter behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Symbolism of the Republican Party
The Republican Party, represented by the elephant, is one of the two major political parties in the United States. The idea of using an elephant to symbolize the Republicans was developed by cartoonist Thomas Nast during the 1860s. Notably, in a cartoon titled "Stranger Things Have Happened" from 1879, Nast depicted the Republicans with this symbol, and it has stuck ever since.
The Republican Party ran its first presidential candidate, John C. Frémont, in 1856. A political cartoon supporting his candidacy humorously addressed the topic of popular sovereignty and its relation to slavery. Throughout history, political cartoons have been a vehicle for both supporting and critiquing political parties, with figures like Teddy Roosevelt’s 1912 campaign being represented by a 'Bull Moose' to imply vigor and strength.
In the 2012 Republican National Convention, symbols such as flags, political buttons, and other party paraphernalia are abundant, each serving to reinforce party identity and solidarity. When a voter identifies with a party's symbol, like the elephant for Republicans, they may be more inclined to vote for its candidates, even if they are not familiar with individual names on a local or county ballot. This demonstrates the enduring power of party symbols in American politics.