On this day in 1813, the United States gets its nickname, Uncle Sam. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812.Wilson (1766-1854) stamped the barrels with “U.S.” for United States, but soldiers began referring to the grub as “Uncle Sam’s.” The local newspaper picked up on the story and Uncle Sam eventually gained widespread acceptance as the nickname for the U.S. federal government. In the late 1860s and 1870s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902) began popularizing the image of Uncle Sam. Nast continued to evolve the image, eventually giving Sam the white beard and stars-and-stripes suit that are associated with the character
At this time the government was funding its debt through private banks such as the Bank of North America and the Bank of New York. Not satisfied with the structure of American banking, Hamilton reported to Congress the need to establish a National Bank in December of 1790. The Senate created a committee to study Hamilton’s proposal. On the committee were men who shared Hamilton’s ideas in fiscal matters, and that of a strong federal government. One of the members, General Schuyler, was Hamilton’s father in law. It was of no surprise that a bill arose out of the committee supporting Hamilton’s plan to incorporate a Bank of the United States.
Born on a farm two miles from Mitchell, Indiana on July 21, 1851, he was soon orphaned and he and his brother and sisters moved to a nearby farm to live with their uncle and his nine children. As a child, Sam received no formal schooling and he chose to strike out on his own in 1869. Sam traveled down the Mississippi, to Rosedale, Mississippi, where he worked for a year in Charles’ Mill. It was here that Sam learned how to handle a pistol and honed his card playing skills. In 1870, Sam met up with Scott Mayes, a teamster headed to Denton, Texas. Sam had always been taken with the idea of moving to Texas and becoming a cowboy, and this looked like his chance. The two arrived in Denton, and Sam found employment with Sheriff W. F. “Dad” Eagan (who would later spend much effort searching for the outlaw Bass) (Webb Century of Frontier Defense 371-372). Sheriff Eagan employed Sam not as a deputy but as a farmhand; he curried the horses, milked the cows, cut firewood, but, most importantly, Sam spent some time as a teamster. It was at this position that he became acquainted with the country and learned all the trails, back roads and thickets that he would later use to elude the Texas Rangers (Webb Story of the Texas Rangers
Though the American colonists had not achieved a true, uniform sense of identity or unity by 1776, on the eve of Revolution, the progress towards unity and the inchoate idea of an “American” between 1750 and 1776 is inevitable in both existence and significance. Previous to the French and Indian War, America as a whole had been, more or less, loyal mercantile-based, and subservient to the British crown as British colonists in the New World; however, the Americans' sense of unity kindled and proliferated with the increased tax burdens and coercive Parliamentary decisions, while even until 1776,
When WWII ended, Americans were left in the hands of Harry Truman. Known as an
It all started after the Declaration of Independence during the time America was busy fighting the Revolutionary War, when Congress realized that they needed to form a plan to move forward and unite the thirteen states as a nation.
Much credit was given to six men, for creating the foundation of America. The first 4
Nearly 30 years after the American Revolution, the United States of America found itself participating in yet another war with Great Britain. In the year of 1812, Madison, the current president, was provoked to wage a war because of the British’s attacks on American ships. The War of 1812 quickly became a war with three different fronts. With battles along the Atlantic and Chesapeake, in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, and Canada, the War created an astonishing aftermath that shaped the United States.
President Jackson, a man who most Americans assimilate to the twenty dollar bill. There is more, however, behind the man than his ironic appearance on the currency of the United States. The Jackson era was a time filled with political turmoil and gossip, economic booms and busts, social changes, diplomacy and many other events. The rise in “modern” style campaigning came to bring this audacious man into power at a time of only one political party. To many Americans we wish that there was only one party today to avoid these political rivalries that seem unparalleled. Actually there was actually more and possibly worse rivalries amongst the same political party. This in fact represent the united states as a whole. While seemingly united under an era with out much foreign intervention and driving the British back out in 1812, there was still division amongst the people. Their voices could be heard on the political and economic stage, but for the Jacksonian era no bigger voices were heard than those demanding social changes. In “The Jacksonian Promise: America” by Daniel Feller he successfully argues that a social revolution started concurrently with the era of Jacksonian policies that was the most responsible for America’s march towards progression. The use of the discussion forum is essential as there are to many social aspects to discuss compared to political or economic factors. The main three social factors that took charge into the era was abolitionist movements in the
Through out American history America has had good presidents, bad presidents, and virtually useless presidents. James Madison’s imprudent decision to enter the War of 1812 digressed America’s social and economical standings as a country, because the war created more than double the debt of the already struggling American economy, humiliated America’s infantile military, and created tensions between America and its foreign customers.
Why are citizens of the United States of America allowed to have “United States” in their official title? It is because they fought through the rough times their country faced. They fought through being torn apart because of their own greed and when things began to get worse, a group of men came together to face their country’s issues head-on, in the meeting that was known as the Constitutional Convention. To debate the fate of their great country, but to also create compromises between the land. The Connecticut Compromise, the Three Fifths Compromise, and ability to allow more power to their National Government were some of their greatest compromise the country has ever seen, created by none the less a group of wise and great men, also known as the Founding Fathers. With these great compromises set in place their government could run efficiently and effectively, but
President James Madison declared war on Great Britain. Some people disagreed with the action. It made no sense why he would do that. Great Britain’s army was way more strong and big in numbers. The United States’ army was unprepared and inexperienced for what was coming at them. It was obvious that the United States stood very little chance against Great Britain army. This war helped the define modern America because the government has now learned from their previous mistakes. When you compare our nations old forces with the new ones, the difference is huge. Nowadays, the United States army is huge in size and very powerful. It is always ready to attack in any situation that comes up.
The United States of America triumphed in the Revolutionary War, emerging as an independent nation. Thereafter, they had an arduous task of building their economy and earning recognition amongst other nations. George Washington, the presiding president, promoted Alexander Hamilton, a thirty-four year old former officer of the Continental Army, as the Secretary of Treasury. He devised plans on how to simultaneously generate revenue and deal with war debts. Inevitably, the United States encountered many disruptions on their road to maturity, including oppositions on Hamilton 's deals by other forefathers and unforeseen wars and rebellions that erupted in the country. Amidst those wars, was the War of 1812, which
Around this time is when colonists started recognizing themselves as an independent nation. This came from the stark contrasts noticed between themselves and the mother country. After the Seven Years’ War thousands of British soldiers were left behind. Americans were dumbfounded at their inappropriate and violent behavior. British called New Englanders “Yankees” and colonists taunted back by calling the red-coated solders “Lobsters.”
Numerous events and people have played a great part in shaping this country of ours into what it is today, the United States of America. Choosing such events or people to talk about is no easy task since there are so many that play a key role in how this country was founded, but the three different ones that will be covered in this paper are George Washington, the Revolutionary War, and finally the Civil War.
The United States of America has gone through huge transformation and historical events that has now given freedom and independence throughout. The freedom has been given through war and key decisions made that have eventually won its independence and created the United States of America from East to West. Andrew Jackson was the president in the early 1800’s that made a considerable amount of change. Theses changes and action that he was involved in changed America forever, in which gave him the respect from the people of America. He was a symbol for his age, becoming a true historical figure and a hero for the people. He defeated the British and expanded America to unifying and create nationalism for the common people of America. This essay will discuss the ways in which Andrew Jackson is depicted as a symbol of the age, in that he was the age. The events and action that took place to give the seventh president power and unify a nation and its own identity in the world.