Was there really Uncle Sam?

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Initially, as a symbol of people used a sign with secret meaning, understandable only to a certain group of people.Symbolic forms are formed from two elements from the image and meaning.Sometimes humorous and sometimes quite serious image, figurines, sculptures, objects, or carry a certain implicit value of individual groups have united to any interest or mystery among the peoples and countries.

Who was the prototype of the American Uncle Sam

From the middle of the last century so-called government of the United States, the country itself, and government agencies related to intelligence, security, army and justice.It happened by itself.For many years this phrase identified private enterprise and business.

generally believed that Uncle Sam is a playful deciphering acronyms USA.Where did this misconception that has become a symbol of?

first time this expression was used in an American newspaper in September 1813 in an angry denouncing government paper.A character with the same name (Samuel or Sam Wilson) existed in reality.During the war with England a successful owner of abattoirs and concurrently the trader engaged in the supply of large quantities of provisions for the US Army.A barrel of salted meat were caused by a large stencil letter US, means that Georgia belongs to the state government.On a large military base in the city of Troy, located near the front line every day brought a few dozen of these signs marked barrels.

Oshibochka out

Once one of the guards began to prove the origin of the Irish soldiers who are close to him that these letters are directly related to the supplier, uncle (Mr.) Sam.Soldiers joked with pleasure on this occasion over the Irish.Every day, when another batch arrived with meat, jokes began again.It togzha and coined the phrase, which later picked up by journalists.

Later common noun moved all the goods from the United States.There is even a holiday called the Day of Uncle Sam that Americans celebrate in March, the 13th, on the actual date of birth of the popular man who became the prototype of the famous character.

When drawn first

first figure - a newspaper cartoon, which depicts Uncle Sam - was published in 1852. He portrayed a lean gray-haired old man with a beard and sideburns, with a high hat on his head.His clothes, painted in the colors of the American flag - blue coat, striped trousers - were added only later.Through fantasy and fiction artists at different times in their own variably comely, but demanding grandfather, the whole world is that it is well looked Uncle Sam.Photos depicting a real person, may differ from draughtsmen crafted image.

present Sam Wilson, judging from surviving descriptions of his appearance, had a short stature and rather fat rounded shape.

Who painted

very first "Uncle Sam" was painted by the artist FG Ballew.The similarity with the original, the real Mr. Wilson, completely absent.Portrait created decades later JM Flagg's famous propaganda poster, has the face of the artist.It is on this picture for the first time Uncle Sam "put on" high-hat hat and blue coat.

now famous image is presented in the form of souvenirs, pictures, large and small figurines.It is present in serious and not-so stories in cartoons mocking kind and meanings.The whole world knows the white-haired old man with whiskers, and it does not matter whether the image is similar to the original character or not.

Lady Liberty

Another famous American symbol is the Statue of Liberty, set on the island of Bedlow (now - Liberty Island) in 1886 on the way from the sea to New York.The huge structure was disassembled delivered to the ship from France by sea route.

female figure, created by Frederic Bartholdi, has a height of 46 m. ​​At the pedestal and a pedestal inside of which is a museum of sculpture height is 93 m. The inner frame on which are mounted copper sheets statue, designed by Gustave Eiffel.It is noteworthy that the figure is made of copper Russia, and the pedestal - the German cement.

Under the agreement, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1877, the United States agreed to accept a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty, a gift for the 100th anniversary of Independence.The pedestal was built on the donations of American citizens.For the most sculptures funds collected in France.Gift late for the planned 10-year anniversary.Despite this unfortunate fact it was arranged a grand celebration with a parade in honor of the long-awaited sculpture installation on a hexagonal pedestal.

Since then, for almost 130 years of Uncle Sam in the form of the Goddess of Liberty welcomes visitors to the country aloft a torch in his hand.