Uncle Sam: International Symbol of America

by Hal Marcovitz

Overview

It is said that the inspiration for the character of Uncle Sam was a man named Sam Wilson, who provided food for the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. By the 1830s, the figure of Uncle Sam had become a personified image of America, commonly used by newspaper and magazine cartoonists to represent the U.S. government's decisions and policies. Perhaps the best-known image of Uncle Sam was created in 1917, during the First World War—a stern, white-haired man wearing star-spangled clothing, encouraging Americans to do their part to support their nation. Uncle Sam remains an important symbol of the United States and the policies and activities of our government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781422287583
Publisher:	Mason Crest
Publication date:	11/17/2014
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	6 - 18 Years

Table of Contents

Patriotic Symbols and American History: Introduction Barry Moreno 6

1 Lexington and Concord 9

2 Uncle Sam Comes to Troy 13

3 The Most Famous Poster 23

4 Uncle Sam the Salesman 33

5 An Enduring Symbol 37

Chronology 42

Series Glossary of Key Terms 43

Further Reading 45

Internet Resources 45

Index 46

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2014
Gr 4–8—Going beyond pat descriptions of symbols, this series digs to the roots of America's garden of emblems. For example, readers not only witness the evolution of the U.S. flag's design over the years, but learn, too, why flags matter in the first place. In addition, children discover that while the Pledge of Allegiance is a cornerstone of American symbolism, pledges to the flag are relatively rare in the rest of the world. Throughout each title, "Vital Figure" sidebars feature key persons. In some instances, the person is well known, such as George Washington. Other times, the subject is less famous but no less important in his or her realm of influence (Alan Freed, unscrupulous but passionate promoter of rock 'n' roll). The concise, engaging writing is aptly accented by symbols that alert readers to special vocabulary words, ideas for research projects, and sidebars brimming with supplemental insights. While not outstanding, the illustrations are colorful and appropriate. A wide-ranging, appealing, and useful series.

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