Brother Jonathan: America’s Forgotten Mascot

Before the United States got stuck with the stern face of Uncle Sam, our national mascot

was actually a chaotic, trash-talking hick named Brother Jonathan. While Uncle Sam is all about duty

and taxes, Brother Jonathan was the definition of a troll. He was rude,

uneducated, and a total trickster, which is honestly a way more accurate vibe for early America.

It actually started as a British insult. Back in the day, the English called the colonists Jonathans

to make fun of them for being unsophisticated simpletons. But after the Revolutionary War,

Americans basically said, Yeah, we are simpletons, and we just beat

you. They reclaimed the name and turned him into a national hero.