Uncle Sam is an easily recognizable piece of wartime propaganda. And legend says he was based off a real person—though that may not actually be the case.

Uncle Sam, the personification of the United States, was "born" on Sept. 7, 1813, and inspired by New York businessman Samuel Wilson, who provided rations to troops in the War of 1812.

But that Uncle Sam has disappeared. The new Uncle Sam is mean and spiteful; he refuses to allow entry into his country for those desperately in need of a safe haven.

Model? “Uncle Sam” may have been Sam Wilson, known as Uncle Sam, a meatpacker who stamped the initials “U.S.” on barrels of meat he sold to the Army in the War of 1812.