This Week in History

May 9, 1754, the “Join or Die” political cartoon appeared in the Pennsylvania Gazette. Ben Franklin was the newspaper publisher and author of the article and cartoon. The cartoon depicted a snake cut into eight pieces that symbolized the British colonies. The cartoon was part of an article addressing a recent military loss to the French.

Franklin’s article went on to explain. “The Confidence of the French in this undertaking seems well-grounded on the present disunited state of the British Colonies, and the extreme difficulty of bringing so many Governments and Assemblies to agree in any speedy and effectual measures for our common Defense and Security.”

Source(s): Library of Congress & National Constitution Center

Compiled by Bob Valen