 "History Today: When the United States' moniker 'Uncle Sam' was born")
September 7 has witnessed historic turning points, a few of which we take a look at as part of Firstpost’s **_History Today series._**
On this day in 1813, the iconic nickname “Uncle Sam” was first linked to the United States, a moniker that would come to symbolise the nation itself.
The date also saw the 1901 signing of the Boxer Protocol in China following the Boxer Rebellion, the 1977 US agreement to transfer control of the Panama Canal to Panama, and the 1996 shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur, which stunned the music world.
The birth of “Uncle Sam”
Few symbols are as instantly recognisable around the world as “Uncle Sam,” the personification of the United States.
With his tall top hat, white goatee, and stern, pointing finger urging citizens to serve their country, Uncle Sam has become an enduring representation of American patriotism and government authority.
The origins of this national symbol date back to September 7, 1813, when the term was first linked to the US in a public record.
Origins in the War of 1812
The backdrop for Uncle Sam’s emergence was the War of 1812, a conflict between the United States and Great Britain. The war was fuelled by maritime disputes, British restrictions on US trade, and the impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy.
During this period, supplies for the American military were in high demand, and contractors played a crucial role in supporting the war effort.
One such contractor was Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York. Wilson supplied barrels of beef to US troops.
The barrels were stamped with the letters “U.S.”, indicating they were property of the United States government.
However, soldiers and local townspeople began jokingly referring to the supplies as coming from “Uncle Sam,” a nod to Wilson’s friendly nickname among workers and residents of Troy.
As the story spread, “Uncle Sam” evolved from a local in-joke into a broader personification of the federal government. Soldiers in particular began to associate the figure of Uncle Sam with their service and sacrifices, lending the term a sense of patriotic significance.
The first recorded use
On September 7, 1813, the name “Uncle Sam” was officially mentioned in the Troy Post, a newspaper published in Wilson’s hometown.
The article made reference to the nickname in describing US military supplies, effectively cementing its place in American vernacular. This marked the first documented connection between the phrase and the United States government.
While there were earlier allegorical figures representing America — such as “Columbia” and “Brother Jonathan” — Uncle Sam had a uniquely relatable and human quality.
Unlike mythical female embodiments like Columbia or Liberty, Uncle Sam was depicted as a stern but familiar older man, making him resonate with ordinary citizens and soldiers alike.
From local legend to national icon
In the decades following the War of 1812, the Uncle Sam character gradually spread beyond Troy and New York State.
As the United States expanded westward and grew in political power, the symbol of Uncle Sam became increasingly associated with federal authority, particularly in matters of war, taxation, and recruitment.
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), political cartoonists like Thomas Nast helped popularise Uncle Sam through newspapers and magazines.
Nast, who also played a major role in shaping the modern image of Santa Claus, used Uncle Sam to comment on national politics, military campaigns, and Reconstruction. By the late 19th century, Uncle Sam had become widely recognised as a symbol of the US government.
The iconic World War I poster
The most famous image of Uncle Sam emerged during World War I, when artist James Montgomery Flagg created the iconic recruitment poster featuring Uncle Sam pointing directly at the viewer with the caption:
“I Want YOU for U.S. Army.”
Published in 1917, the poster was inspired by a similar British design featuring Lord Kitchener. Flagg’s depiction of Uncle Sam was modelled on his own features, and it became one of the most enduring images in American history.
The poster was used again during World War II, solidifying Uncle Sam’s place as a central figure in US military recruitment and propaganda.
Official recognition and legacy
In 1961, the US Congress officially recognised Samuel Wilson as the progenitor of America’s national symbol, Uncle Sam. Wilson’s former home in Troy, New York, is now a historical landmark, and the city celebrates its connection to the famous figure each year.
Today, Uncle Sam continues to appear in political cartoons, advertisements, and popular culture. He represents not only the US government but also ideals of patriotism, civic duty, and national identity.
The character has been adapted and parodied countless times, reflecting both pride and criticism of US government actions.
The Boxer Protocol signed
The Boxer Protocol was signed on September 7, 1901, marking the official end of the Boxer Rebellion in China. The rebellion, which lasted from 1899 to 1901, was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising aimed at expelling foreign influence from China.
After foreign powers — including the US, Britain, Russia, Japan, and others — intervened militarily to suppress the uprising, the defeated Qing Dynasty was forced to accept harsh terms.
The protocol required China to pay 450 million taels of silver in reparations, allow foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing, and execute officials who supported the Boxers.
It represented a low point in Chinese sovereignty and a symbol of foreign domination in the early 20th century.
Tupac Shakur shot
On September 7, 1996, US rapper Tupac Shakur was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, following a Mike Tyson boxing match.
Shakur, a towering figure in the hip-hop world, was only 25 years old.
He was rushed to the hospital but died six days later on September 13. His murder remains officially unsolved, though it has fuelled decades of speculation and conspiracy theories.
Tupac’s death had a profound impact on the music industry and is often cited as a defining moment in the East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry of the 1990s.
US agrees to transfer Panama Canal
The Panama Canal Treaties were signed on September 7, 1977, by US President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos.
The agreements stipulated that the United States would gradually transfer control of the Panama Canal to Panama, with full handover completed by December 31, 1999.
The canal, completed in 1914, had long been a symbol of US engineering prowess and strategic power, but also a source of tension with Panama.
The treaties marked a turning point in US-Latin American relations, highlighting mutual respect and cooperation. The eventual handover was seen as a milestone in Panamanian sovereignty and diplomacy.
With inputs from agencies
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