Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam,nickname for the people or government of the U.S. The first recorded use occurs in the Troy Post (Sept. 7, 1813), where it is said to be derived from the letters U.S. on government wagons. Thereafter it appeared frequently in upstate New York newspapers, and seems to have been derisively used by those who opposed the War of 1812. Other theories concerning its origin may be found, but the one above seems the most acceptable. The first appearance of the name in book form was in The Adventures of Uncle Sam (1816) by “Frederick Augustus Fidfaddy, Esq.” The first foreigner to use the term was the Englishman William Faux, who employed it frequently in his Memorable Days in America (1823). By 1860 the term had passed into the dictionary without any opprobrious connotation. The costume of Uncle Sam derives from that of Jack Downing, whom he replaced as the national symbol in cartoons. The clown Dan Rice performed in such a costume.
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