Uncle Sam's Hat Forever Stamp 2017
Uncle Sam: The Iconic Symbol of American Values
Uncle Sam, with his signature stars and stripes hat, has symbolized the United States since the early 1800s. Though his origins are somewhat ambiguous, the American ideals he embodies are steadfast.
Origins and Evolution:
The term Uncle Sam emerged during the War of 1812. However, it was Thomas Nast's political cartoons in the 1870s that popularized this figure. Nast blended elements from Abraham Lincoln to create the recognizable image of Uncle Sam, complete with striped pants, a tailcoat, and a tall hat.
World War I and Iconic Imagery:
Uncle Sam as we know him today was solidified during World War I. His most iconic portrayal was by James Montgomery Flagg in a recruitment poster that showed a stern Uncle Sam pointing and declaring, I Want YOU For U.S. Army.This poster, printed over four million times, remains a national symbol more than a century later.
Enduring Legacy:
Thanks to the illustrations by Nast and Flagg, Uncle Sam is instantly recognizable to Americans. As long as the United States upholds the values he represents liberty, justice, and equality Uncle Sam will remain a powerful emblem of the American spirit.
