Uncle Sam (with the same initials as United States) is a common national personification of the United States, depicting the federal government or the country as a whole. Since the early 19th century, Uncle Sam has been a popular symbol of the U.S. government in American culture and a manifestation of patriotic emotion. [3]

Mar 29, 2025 · Uncle Sam, popular symbol for the United States, usually associated with a cartoon figure having long white hair and chin whiskers and dressed in a swallow-tailed coat, vest, tall hat, and striped trousers.

By that point, Uncle Sam had also taken on a more distinct persona as the embodiment of the American government, in contrast with Brother Jonathan’s representation of its industrious citizens. Uncle Sam ultimately eclipsed the older symbol outright before the end of the 19th century, even assuming Jonathan’s standard uniform of striped ...

Sep 13, 2013 · The image of Uncle Sam as a personification of our nation and government is widespread and instantly recognizable. But did you ever wonder about where he came from? Was he purely imaginary, or based on a real historical figure?

Jul 22, 2024 · Uncle Sam, a symbol of authority and power, originated from a 1917 propaganda poster by artist James Montgomery Flagg during WWI. The popular belief that Uncle Sam's name came from meatpacker Sam Wilson during the War of …

Nov 24, 2009 · Scholars have uncovered a handful of earlier references linking the U.S. to the nickname Uncle Sam, but the Troy Post origin story has stuck as the official one.

The term Uncle Sam is said to have been derived from a man named Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied rations for the soldiers during the War of 1812. Samuel Wilson, who served in the American Revolution at the age of 15, was born in Massachusetts.

Aug 21, 2024 · Uncle Sam is the personification of the United States federal government, dating back to the 19th century. He's typically depicted as an older gentleman sporting a star-spangled top hat and...

Aug 29, 2016 · Uncle Sam is a common nickname for the United States or the country's federal government. According to legend, the name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied...

Sep 11, 2021 · In 1917, Uncle Sam became the character that you’d recognize today. New York illustrator James Montgomery Flagg took Uncle Sam and merged it with the concept behind a British military poster—the same country that the troops Samuel Wilson fed were fighting against.