Uncle Sam: An American National Symbol

Samuel Wilson (1766-1854) was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, then known as Menotomy. He grew up in Mason, New Hampshire, and in 1778 he and his brother Ebeneezer moved to Troy NY, to start a business in the meat-packing industry.

During the War of 1812, Sam Wilson obtained a contract to supply beef to the Army in its campaign further north. He shipped the meat in barrels branded with the initials "U.S." as they were government property. The soldiers and the teamsters took to joking that the initials referred to their "Uncle Sam," and over time, everything marked with "U.S." was linked with Uncle Sam. As much Army property these markings, Uncle Sam became synonymous with the United States itself. All supplies from the United States government were said to come from Uncle Sam.

Buy This Allposters.comJ. M. Flagg's 1917 poster used to recruit soldiers for both World War I and World War II defined the classic look of Uncle Sam, with a white goatee and dressed in his patriotic suit and top hat. Flagg used himself as the model for the picture's face, so as to save money on a modeling fee, and Veteran Walter Botts stood for the pose.

Flaggs poster was based on the original British Lord Kitchener by Alfred Leeze poster from three years earlier. Its popularity has caused the picture to me altered and parodied hundreds of times since.


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Being the personification of America, Uncle Sam is often portrayed interacting with personifications of other countries.

COLORING:
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam with Flag
Uncle Sam ringing Liberty Bell
Uncle Sam Hat
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam Running
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam Walking

CRAFTS:
Uncle Sam Pin
Standing Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam Can
Kid's Uncle Sam Mask
Recycled Uncle Sam Hat
Uncle Sam Beaded Safety Pin
Uncle Sam Hat
Uncle Sam Napkin Rings
Styrofoam Uncle Sam (difficult)