Who is Uncle Sam based on?
Q: Who is Uncle Sam based on?
A: Uncle Sam is based on a real person named Samuel Wilson, who lived in Troy, New York.
Q: What did Samuel Wilson do during the War of 1812?
A: During the War of 1812, he supplied food for the American soldiers. The food barrels had a “U.S.” on them for United States and the troops knew Samuel was sending the food and called it “Uncle Sam’s.”
Q: Who popularized the image of Uncle Sam from 1860-1870?
A: Thomas Nast was the first to popularize the image of Uncle Sam from 1860-1870. He gave him a white beard and a Stars and Stripes suit.
Q: When did James Montgomery Flagg draw his version of Uncle Sam?
A: James Montgomery Flagg drew his own version of Uncle Sam in 1916. In his version, Uncle Sam was wearing a tall top hat, blue jacket, and was pointing straight at the viewer.
Q: What caption accompanied Flagg's poster in 1917?
A: The caption accompanying Flagg's poster in 1917 was "I Want You." This poster was used all throughout World War I and reappeared again during World War II.
Q: How has Uncle Sam become one of America's most iconic images?
A: Through its use as an army recruitment tool during WWI and WWII as well as its many iterations over time by various artists, Uncle Sam has become one of America's most iconic images in politics today.
