Brother Jonathan

Brother Jonathan is a symbolic figure representing the United States, its people, or a typical American. This figure emerged from American folklore and was often depicted as a witty, rural American who outsmarted adversaries.12

Brother Jonathan was a precursor to the more widely recognized symbol, Uncle Sam. Both figures were used interchangeably by American cartoonists from the early 1830s to 1861 to represent the United States. While Brother Jonathan was a character in plays, stories, and cartoons, Uncle Sam's origin is often linked to Samuel Wilson, a businessman whose supplied goods were stamped "U.S." during the War of 1812. The modern image of Uncle Sam was significantly shaped by cartoonists like Thomas Nast.2