Political Cartoon Summary: The American Civil War

The cartoon above depicts a snake cut into 8 pieces-each signifying a colony in North America. Under it are the words “JOIN, or DIE”. This political cartoon, created by Benjamin Franklin, was made to promote the significance of colonial unity. At a time of great change in the colonies, Franklin wanted to bring about cohesion and solidity among the colonies. Just like a snake is powerless without all of its parts, the colonies needed each other to successfully defeat the French and Native American in the French and Indian War and later, Great Britain during the American