Existing comment:
13 Star Parade Flag from the 1840 Presidential Campaign of William Henry Harrison with Slogan and Log Cabin Image
United States, 1840
Before 1912, it was permissible and common to alter the design of the American flag -- especially for presidential elections. Some of the earliest examples come from the 1840 campaign of Whig Party candidate William Henry Harrison, whose victory made him our nation's 9th president. While himself a wealthy man, Harrison evoked humble images of a log cabin and cider (rather than whisky) to position himself as a man-of-the-people. The banner affixed to the rooftop proclaims "Harrison & Reform" to contrast with the entrenched elitism of his opponent, incumbent Pres. Martin Van Buren. Viewers might notice other modifications of the flag, particularly the 15 stripes (rather than 13) and the decorative arrangements of 13 stars (in 1840 there were 26 states and stars on the flag). Through such variations, a patriotic symbol of undisputed national identity was transformed into a divisive proclamation of one candidate's superiority over another. |