Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam is the fictional embodiment of the United States of America, heavily used in political cartoons, propaganda, and other anthropomorphic depictions of the country. The term "Uncle Sam" dates to the War of 1812, and the earliest depiction to 1852. It was primarily in the post-Civil War era, however, particularly in the illustrations of Thomas Nast, that the familiar image of the tall, goateed Uncle Sam (borrowing aspects of Abraham Lincoln) completely supplanted earlier anthropomorphizations of America (such as Columbia and Brother Jonathan). 
Uncle Sam became particularly iconic in World War I, through a series of famous recruitment posters in which, finger outstretched, he encouraged citizens to join the military. 
==Gallery==
Image:Unclesameagle.jpg|Sam the Eagle, from The Muppet Show Fan Club Newsletter
Image:Unclesam-hallinden.jpg|Hal Linden, from The Muppet Show episode 517
Scandecor want woman.jpg|Animal's patriotic libido exploited in a 1982 Scandecor poster
Image:Unclesam-babyrowlf.jpg|Baby Rowlf, from the Muppet Babies episode "What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?" 
Image:Samamerica.jpeg|Sam the Eagle, from Muppet*Vision 3D
Image:Greatmuppetscbook.JPG|Animal, on the Great Muppets in American History coloring book
Image:Unclesamtheeagle.jpg|Sam in the Great Muppets in American History coloring book
Image:Uncle-sam-cookie.jpg|Cookie Monster, from the Universal Studios Japan Halloween parade2008
Image:Red_uncle_sam.JPG|Uncle Sam in a parade in Big Bird's Red Book
Bang-on series 2 me want cookie.jpg|Sesame Street T-shirts (Bang-On)
Uncle Elmo wants you.jpg|Bye-Bye Pacifier! Big Kid Stories with Elmo promotional poster
Sam Eagle - Uncle Sam 2014 Facebook.jpg|Sam Eagle in a 2014 Presidents Day video posted on Walt Disney Studios's Facebook page
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Category:America
Category:Historical References
Category:Symbolic References