The image above is one we've all seen over the course of our American history education (assuming you grew up in the United States). This image, designed by none other then Big Ben himself, unified the American colonies twice since its publication. The cartoon's first purpose was igniting the spark of rebellion in the United States colonies during 1754 when there was division over whether to fight the French and Indians for westward land during the French and Indian War. The colonies needs to band together in order to hold off the French forces and Franklin's cartoon with the phrase, "Join or Die" did the trick. Eleven years later, in 1756, the cartoon would unify American troops once again but against a different opponent- Britain. The structure of the snake brought the lack of unification of the colonies to light, portraying them and New England as separate regions all part of one lethal body. If the colonies bound together and joined forces, a deadly serpent would emerge ready to strike, becoming a characterization of the Revolutionary War. The cartoon became so representative of independence that colonies in both the north and south printed it on a weekly basis and Paul Revere even had it painted on his vessel. Benjamin Franklin's literary genius stretches to drawing political cartoons in this instance. The simplicity of the cartoon is backed with a strong message that leaves no mistake the colonies mean business. Franklin is able to influence audiences on a national level, reaching people living from Massachusetts to South Carolina. The impact of the cartoon was felt for years to come. Following the Revolutionary War, both the Union and Confederacy came to employ its message during the Civil War. Benjamin Franklin was able to write a portion of history during the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, and the Civil War due to his highly effective and straight forward portrayal of what the colonies can be if they act as one.
