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I first heard the term "tin soldier" in the 1970 Neil Young protest song "Ohio." ("Tin soldiers and Nixon coming …") It was recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in response to the Kent State shootings by the Ohio National Guard. I immediately grasped at the concept of civilians playing at being soldiers. I thought then that the term was original to Young, but I recently read the 1922 novel. Babbitt, by Sinclair Lewis. In the story, the title character observes a labor union march with "tin soldiers" herding the mob away from its intended target. So, my question is: Where did the demeaning term "tin soldier" originate?
"Tin" soldiers, cast from lead, lead-tin alloys, and other metals, have been popular toys probably for a couple of centuries at least: Hans Christian Andersen wrote a story about one before the mid-nineteenth century. I think Neil Young was implying not only that the National Guardsmen were playing at being soldiers, but that the government was using them as toys, playing with them, in an irresponsible way. I wish I could tell you when the figurative use of the term started.
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