For as long as anyone can remember, this stone-faced, flag-clad gent has stood as a representation of American pride as well as the country itself.
But rewind a few centuries, and you would likely get a patriotic punch in the face for mentioning the name Uncle Sam in the presence of a proud American.
Created during the 1830s, the famous cartoon was based upon “Uncle Sam” Wilson, a real-life man who delivered food to American troops during the War of 1812.
However, despite the heroics of his namesake, the “Uncle Sam” caricature was originally drawn for one very specific reason: to insult the United States government.
Countless political cartoons from his early life use him to mock everything from the country’s warlike nature to rampant political corruption—everyone’s favorite uncle was essentially the entire world’s punching bag.
During the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, however, people realized how alike the two looked and opinion toward the derisive symbol began to shift.
Lincoln’s popularity ended up completely flipping Uncle Sam’s reputation, leaving us with a new and utterly confusing mascot.
