There are many symbols of anarchism including cats that have been used over the years to identify and rally supporters for a cause. The cause is usually a protest or political movement against current conditions. With the increase in anti-globalization recently, the symbols of anarchy are starting to reappear.

The black cat was designed by Ralph Chaplin, a prominent figure of the IWW, also known as the Wobblies. The movement started in 1905 and continued through the early 1920's until it was suppressed by the Justice Department under J. Edgar Hoover. It signified wildcat strikes and radical unionism. The symbol has also been associated with witchcraft, bad omens and death.

The black flag has been a symbol of anarchy since the 1880s. It symbolizes defiance and opposition to surrender. The flag has been used by groups opposed to representation. The black flag has also been used in many protests against oppression. It was used by pirates to indicate the lives of a crew would be spared if they surrendered. It was also used during the French and Russian Revolutions by certain protest groups. It is still used today by anarchical movements.

The circled A, where the A stands for anarchy, is one of the best known present day symbols. It was developed by Giuseppe Fanelli, a Freemason, in 1868 and later adopted as a symbol of anarchy. The symbol became a part of the punk rock movement in the 1970's. It was used by the band, Sex Pistols, to signify the punk rock style of music. Although used as a marketing ploy, it increased the awareness of anarchy.

The black cross is a symbol representing a movement to eliminate all prisons. The symbol originated in Russia to support political prisoners. It was adopted by anarchists to signify unity of purpose. The cross was modified from the symbol for the Red Cross to avoid confusion with the Red Cross. It has been associated with black power, women's lib, youth power and the American Indian Movement.

Known as a symbol of piracy, the jolly roger or the skull and cross bones has gained popularity as a symbol of anarchy. Originally used by the Libertatain pirates, it signifies a pirate's way of life free from repressive societies. It has gained popularity with many anarchical movements.

The anarchist symbol, circled A, with a V represents the political philosophy of animal liberation. The philosophy also known as veganism excludes the use of animals for food, clothing or other uses. It was popularized in 1995 by Brian Dominick and is used by animal rights groups. People who actively support this movement are against killing any animal and have strict vegetarian diets.

Other symbols of anarchy not shown above are the wooden shoe, black rose and bisected flags and stars. Each symbol has been used to represent a political movement or protest throughout the world. Depending on the cause, an organization will adapt or create a symbol that best represents it's philosophy.

Thomas Cole was born in Lancashire, England in 1801, and his family emigrated to America when he was seventeen years of age. He trained first as an engraver of woodblocks that were used in printing calico. He learned the basic of art from John Stein, and then attended Pennsylvania School of Fine Arts. He also spent a year engraving woodblocks in Phildelphia. In 1823 he went joined his family in Pittsbough, where he drew many cityscapes. He then moved to New York.

He traveled to Europe on a number of occasions to study the masters and his paintings in New York became more saleble as they depicted American scenes painted in the European style.

Thomas painted a number of landscapes and offered them for sale and George W Bruen purchased many of them and then financed a trip up the Hudson River. An area that many painters used often for inspiration in their work and they become known as the Hudson River School. The Hudson River School consisted of a group of artists who could see the uniqueness of the American landscape, and tried to capture it. America was a new country at that time with little tradition and not a lot of political power in the world. Some reasoned that the way to "move up" was to exploit the beauty of America's scenery in paintings or landscapes. The waterfalls, mountains, deserts and forests were different to the ones in Europe.

Thomas became a writer of these "things American", extolling the virtues of the new continent. He was scathing on modern society as it was becoming too complicated. He also painted landscapes with figures, but to enhance the position of nature in the order of things, he painted the figures smaller.

He married Maria Bartow, whose father owned a studio that Cole rented. They were both deeply religious people and were active members of the Episcopal Church.

Thomas Cole died on 1848 in New York after a few months of poor health.

He left many works that have truly brought the unique America landscapes to the attention of people all over the world. It is a good thing to own a Thomas Cole painting.