---
title: 'Uncle Sam: The Lid''s Down! Obey Orders!'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uncle-sam-the-lids-down-obey-orders-1918/
description: A pen-and-ink cartoon shows a sleeve labelled 'Uncle Sam' and a hand pressing down the lid of a face-shaped 'Family Sugar Bowl,' with sugar tongs beside
section: Collection
---

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3. Uncle Sam: The Lid's Down! Obey Orders!

[![Uncle Sam: The Lid's Down! Obey Orders!, 1918 US poster: A pen-and-ink cartoon shows a sleeve labelled 'Uncle Sam' and a hand](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uncle-sam-the-lids-down-obey-orders-1918.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/uncle-sam-the-lids-down-obey-orders-1918.jpg)

# Uncle Sam: The Lid's Down! Obey Orders!

A pen-and-ink cartoon shows a sleeve labelled 'Uncle Sam' and a hand pressing down the lid of a face-shaped 'Family Sugar Bowl,' with sugar tongs beside it. The caption 'The Lid's Down! Obey Orders!' frames sugar saving as a command from the state. The tell is the personified government acting directly on the household's own table.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/) [Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
UNCLE SAM
THE LID'S DOWN!
FAMILY SUGAR BOWL
OBEY ORDERS!
U. S. Food Administration.

[artist's monogram and date at lower left: '18]
```

[← Treat 'Em Rough! Join the Tanks, United States Tank Corps](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treat-em-rough-join-the-tanks-1918/) [Uncle Sam's Birthday, July 4th 1918: 142 Years Young and Going Strong →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/uncle-sams-birthday-july-4th-1918/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [A Little American's Promise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-little-americans-promise-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Transfer)
- [All Together! Enlist in the Navy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-together-enlist-in-the-navy-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [Members of U.S. Food Administration: America Has Promised to Feed the Hungry Millions of Europe, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-food-pledge-20-million-tons-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion)
- [Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines. Help Them Defend America on Land and Sea](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/do-your-duty-join-the-us-marines-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Glittering generalities, Identity fusion)
- [50-50 (The Job of Beating Up the Hun)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fifty-fifty-service-series-11-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion)
- [Food Will Win the War: Member of United States Food Administration (Pledge Card)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/food-will-win-the-war-member-pledge-card-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon)
- [Hit the Bull's Eye! Are You on This List? Get Your Name in the Circle: It's the Ring of Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-the-bulls-eye-ring-of-liberty-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [I Am a Soldier of the United States (Service Series No. 12)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-am-a-soldier-of-the-united-states-service-series-no-12-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)