is a popular name for the government

of the US. Its origin was as follows:

Samuel Wilson, commonly called "Uncle
Sam," was an inspector of beef and pork, in
Troy, N.Y. He inspected the meat purchased for
the government after the declaration of
war against England in 1812. A contractor named
Elbert Anderson purchased a quantity of
provisions, and the barrels were marked "E.A.,"
the initials of his name, and "U.S.," for United
States. The latter initials were not familiar to
Wilson's workmen, who inquired what they
meant. A facetious fellow answered, "I don't
know, unless they mean 'Uncle Sam." A vast
amount of property afterwards passed through
Wilson's hands, marked in the same way, and
he was rallied on the extent of his
possessions. The joke spread, and it was not long
before the initials of the United States were regarded as "Uncle Sam," which name has been in
popular parlance ever since. Even a popular song says: "Uncle Sam is rich enough to give us all a
farm."
So, by 1820, Uncle Sam was sometimes used as a term for the United States. The popular
image of Uncle Sam did not emerge until some time later. In fact, prior to the Civil War, another
character was much more commonly used as a symbol for our country; Brother Jonathan. Brother
Jonathan had many of the features we associate with Uncle Sam: striped pants, a coat with tails, and
a tall top hat. At the start of the Civil War, Brother Jonathan was almost always used as the symbol
ofDo
theyouUnited
haveStates.
a national symbol or hero? Write about him/her.
1. AmericansBy 1864,
oftenUncle Sam
call their had become the 1.
Government more
Whopervasive
was Samuel symbol
Wilson?of How
the United
is he States in
newspapers and other publications, as Brother Jonathan gradually faded away. symbol the
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Brother Jonathan. connected with the American
The popular image of Uncle Sam was defined in large part
text was about? by Thomas Nast, who was one of
2.
the Unclepopular
most Sam was usedofasthe
artists a term
1800's.forNast
the was also responsible for popular images of Santa Claus,
_______________________________________________________________________________________
United
the States since
Republican the beginning
Elephant, and the of the
Democratic 2. Who was
Donkey. the symbol
Nast's of the US before
first illustration of Uncle Sam
18 th
appearedcentury.
in the November 20, 1869. Uncle Sam? Did he have anything
_______________________________________________________________________________________
in
Uncle Sam is a symbol of the best ideals of common withStates.
the United the latter symbol?
From the earliest days until
3.
today, Brother Jonathan had many of the
he has stood for Freedom, Equality, and Justice. While as a Nation, Americans do not always
_______________________________________________________________________________________
features we associate with Uncle Sam:remains3.a When
Uncle Sam did Uncle Sam become the
perfectly achieve those ideals, poignant symbol and reminder of the goal and
striped pants, a coat with tails, andIndivisible,
a tall major American Symbol?
objective... One Nation, Under God, with Liberty and Justice for All.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
top hat.
4. Who designed the popular image of
4. Brother Jonathan gradually faded Uncle Sam?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
away
5. What ideas does Uncle Sam
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. The popular image of Uncle Sam was symbolize? Does he inspire Americans?
defined in large part by Thomas Nast.
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