Political Novelties

The Constitution made the presidency and the positions of senator and representative elective offices. By the early 19th century, rivalries among political factions in the new government led to the creation of a competitive party system. The promotion of candidates among an expanding electorate placed increasing importance on the success of popular political campaigns.
The earliest objects in this group commemorate George Washington’s inauguration as the first president in 1789. Washington was the nation’s overwhelming choice, and the popular artifacts associated with his presidency generally celebrated the man and the office. With the realization of an in-and-out party system in the era of Andrew Jackson, advocacy replaced commemoration. Commemorative clothing buttons, sewing boxes, and crockery gave way to expendable campaign advertising novelties such as badges, buttons, and ribbons. These objects are the products of an economy of popular promotion that sought to instill a high level of activism and engagement. By the mid-20th century badges, buttons, and ribbons began to be displaced by investments in radio and television advertising and opinion polling.


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Commemorative Clothing Button, George Washington, 1789
- associated person
- Washington, George
- ID Number
- 1980.0771.03
- accession number
- 1980.0771
- catalog number
- 1980.0771.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Commemorative Mug, Thomas Jefferson, 1801
- associated person
- Jefferson, Thomas
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1801.I01
- accession number
- 227739
- catalog number
- 227739.1801.I1
- 227739.1801.I01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mug, Monroe
- associated person
- Monroe, James
- ID Number
- CE.62.1061
- accession number
- 171126
- catalog number
- 62.1061
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mug, Adams Portrait
- associated person
- Adams, John
- ID Number
- CE.62.1030A
- accession number
- 171126
- catalog number
- 62.1030A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Flyer, Andrew Jackson, 1828
- date made
- 1828
- associated person
- Jackson, Andrew
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1828.F4
- catalog number
- 227739.1828.F4
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Sewing Box, John Quincy Adams, 1828
- date made
- c1828
- associated person
- Adams, John Quincy
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1828.X02
- catalog number
- 227739.1828.X02
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Commemorative Snuff Box, Andrew Jackson, 1829
- associated person
- Jackson, Andrew
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1829.X01
- catalog number
- 227739.1829.X01
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Commemorative Snuff Box, 1832
- associated person
- Van Buren, Martin
- Jackson, Andrew
- Webster, Daniel
- Clay, Henry
- ID Number
- PL.282464.01
- catalog number
- 282464.01
- accession number
- 282464
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Martin Van Buren Campaign Pull Card
- depicted (sitter)
- Van Buren, Martin
- ID Number
- PL.315264.3832
- accession number
- 315264
- catalog number
- 315264.3832
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Martin Van Buren Campaign Pull Card
- associated person
- Van Buren, Martin
- ID Number
- PL.315264.3833
- catalog number
- 315264.3833
- accession number
- 315264
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Campaign Pull Card, 1837
- associated date
- 1837
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1837.W01
- catalog number
- 227739.1837.W01
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Ribbon, Young Men's National Whig Convention
- Date made
- 1840-05-04
- associated person
- Harrison, William
- associated institution
- Whig Party
- ID Number
- PL.248325
- catalog number
- 248325
- accession number
- 48001
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Booklet, "Harrison Melodies", 1840
- Date made
- 1840
- associated person
- Harrison, William
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1840.K04
- catalog number
- 227739.1840.K04
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Spoon, 1840
- associated person
- Harrison, William
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1840.X01
- catalog number
- 227739.1840.X01
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Campaign Ribbon, William Henry Harrison
- Description
- The rise of printing and engraving led to the production of ribbons for political campaigns and commemorative events. Simple and straightforward, graphic appeal of the ribbon neatly fit the politics of personal association reflected by all manner of knick-knacks, household items, and specialty merchandise imprinted with a symbol or emblem.
- associated person
- Adams, John
- Jefferson, Thomas
- referenced
- Harrison, William Henry
- ID Number
- 1978.0590.037
- accession number
- 1978.0590
- catalog number
- 1978.0590.037
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Log Cabin Snuff Box
- Associated Name
- Harrison, William Henry
- ID Number
- 1980.0740.02
- accession number
- 1980.0740
- catalog number
- 1980.0740.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Booklet, "Clay Minstrel", 1844
- associated person
- Clay, Henry
- Frelinghuysen, Theodore
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1844.E03
- catalog number
- 227739.1844.E03
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Pipe Depicting Henry Clay
- associated person
- Clay, Henry
- ID Number
- PL.227739.1844.X01
- catalog number
- 227739.1844.X01
- accession number
- 227739
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Henry Clay Campaign Cigar Case, 1844
- date made
- 1844
- referenced
- Clay, Henry
- ID Number
- PL.279400.01
- accession number
- 279400
- catalog number
- 279400.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History