1848 Presidential Election Cartoon: “The People’s Line-Take Care of the Locomotive” #3218711 (License: Personal Use)

This 1848 lithograph caricatures the U.S. presidential race between Whig nominee Zachary Taylor (the “Hard Cider” candidate, symbolized by a barrel-shaped locomotive with his face) and Henry Clay (straddling a collapsing cab labeled “Uncle Sam’s Cab” and “Clay”). The imagery reflects Taylor’s populist appeal and Clay’s perceived elitism and electoral missteps. The slogan “The People’s Line-Take care of the Locomotive” underscores the pro-Taylor message that the people should support the forward-moving, grassroots campaign.

Used in digital archives, museum exhibits, and educational resources on 19th-century U.S. politics; serves users researching Gilded Age political cartoons, campaign iconography, or the 1848 election. Matches intent for historians, students, and collectors seeking primary source visuals.