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[[File:Columbia4.jpg|thumb|220px|Columbia is a sailor in President [[William McKinley]]'s navy, and is trying on "world power" on April 6, 1901; the feather is smoke representing expansion into the Pacific and Caribbean]]  

[[File:Columbia4.jpg|thumb|220px|Columbia is a sailor in President [[William McKinley]]'s navy, and is trying on "world power" on April 6, 1901; the feather is smoke representing expansion into the Pacific and Caribbean]]  

'''Columbia''' was a goddess-like female figure who was common representation in art of the United States, as The Goddess of Democracy. The Latin term derived of from [[Christopher Columbus]], "The lands of Columbus". Columbia is often a name of vessels used in exploration. She is seen as virtuous and protective, the symbol of American pride and progress. Miss Columbia has declined due to the [[Statue of Liberty]] having taken her place next to Uncle Sam.  

'''Columbia''' was a goddess-like female figure who was common representation in art of the United States, as The Goddess of Democracy. The Latin term derived from [[Christopher Columbus]], "The lands of Columbus". Columbia is often a name of vessels used in exploration. She is seen as virtuous and protective, the symbol of American pride and progress. Miss Columbia has declined due to the [[Statue of Liberty]] having taken her place next to Uncle Sam.  

Columbia was introduced by black poet Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency [[George Washington]]". <ref>Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref> Wheatley's poem was based heavily on classical Roman sources, which she used in translation, and as befits a model of [[Republicanism]], Columbia is garbed in Roman dress. <ref>Thomas J. Steele, "The Figure of Columbia: Phillis Wheatley plus George Washington," ''New England Quarterly,'' Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 1981), pp. 264-266 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/364975 in JSTOR]</ref> Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley. The term caught public fancy and many places in the Western Hemisphere were named after her, such as the [[District of Columbia]], [[Columbia University]], and the Colombia River.<Ref> In 1858, Queen Victoria named [[British Columbia]] part of Canada, named after its' Columbia River.</ref>  Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons.  

Columbia was introduced by black poet Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency [[George Washington]]". <ref>Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref> Wheatley's poem was based heavily on classical Roman sources, which she used in translation, and as befits a model of [[Republicanism]], Columbia is garbed in Roman dress. <ref>Thomas J. Steele, "The Figure of Columbia: Phillis Wheatley plus George Washington," ''New England Quarterly,'' Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 1981), pp. 264-266 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/364975 in JSTOR]</ref> Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley. The term caught public fancy and many places in the Western Hemisphere were named after her, such as the [[District of Columbia]], [[Columbia University]], and the Colombia River.<Ref> In 1858, Queen Victoria named [[British Columbia]] part of Canada, named after its' Columbia River.</ref>  Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons.