Uncle Sam is an American national symbol of patriotism as well as the personification* of the American Government (Uncle Sam’s initials are U.S. – just like United States). The legend of Uncle Sam began back in the 1800’s during the US Was of 1812. This patriotic symbol of the government is supposedly based on a real person, named Samuel Wilson. According to the legend, Sam Wilson was a meat packer in New York, who helped supply soldiers fighting in the war with food. When suppliers were sending food to soldiers they had to stamp their location and name on the packages. Apparently some packages were stamped with the labeled “EA – US” and some soldiers believed the US on these package stood for Uncle Sam. This is just a legend though, no one is 100% this is actually true. The image of what Uncle Sam looks like has changed since his inception**; but he has come to embody an old/middle aged white-haired man with a goatee***. Uncle Sam is almost always dressed in patriotic colors (red, white, and blue are the colors of the American flag and thus generally considered America’s patriotic colors). He also almost always wears a top hat, bow tie, and suit. From the time that he was first made into a national symbol Uncle Sam has been found on recruitment posters for most wars that America has been involved in (see picture above of a recruitment post with Uncle Sam). For many people Uncle Sam stands as a symbol of pride and patriotism, while for others he represents the hard and stern sides of the United States Government. Regardless of ones feeling’s about this image, all American’s have heard of Uncle Sam and can recognize him immediately.
The term “Uncle Sam” can be used interchangeably in almost all instances with the term “the United States Government” for example here is how this term might be used in conversation.
Michelle: Have you paid your taxes yet?
Denis: No, I owe Uncle Sam so much this year I am waiting to the last minute to pay.
* personification = a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is given human qualities
** inception = the beginning of something, the origin
*** goatee = a small chin beard trimmed into a point
