Around 1812, Britain had been at war with France for several years. American, this new country, wanted nothing to do with the arguments and battles of the Old World, Europe. However, Britain began capturing American ships at sea and forcing American sailors into the British navy, ignoring all protest from the United States government. At last the United States declared war on Britain.
The Government gave contracts for all sorts of provisioners to make sure the soldiers were supplied and fed. Sam Wilson's slaughterhouse in Troy, New York won a contract fo packing cured beef into barrels to ship off to the army. Each barrel was stamped "U.S." for United States. But since Wilson was known locally as Uncle Sam, people began saying "U.S." stood for Uncle Sam.
Eventually, the entire nation adopted Uncle Sam as the nickname for the federal government. in 1961, Congress declared:"Resolved by the Senate that the Congress salutes Uncle Sam Wilson of Troy, New York, as the progenitor of American's National Symbol of 'Uncle Sam.'"
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