Join, or Die: Benjamin Franklin’s Iconic 1754 Political Cartoon #1411081 (License: Personal Use)

This 1754 political cartoon, created by Benjamin Franklin and published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, depicts a segmented rattlesnake-symbolizing the American colonies-with each piece labeled by colonial abbreviation (S.C., N.C., V., M., P., N.J., N.Y., N.E.). The image was intended to advocate for intercolonial cooperation against French and Native American threats during the French and Indian War. Its enduring legacy includes later adoption by revolutionaries as a call for independence and unity.

Used in educational, historical, and political contexts-especially on pages about early American history, the Enlightenment era, or U.S. founding symbols. Matches user intent seeking primary source analysis, visual rhetoric, or origins of patriotic imagery.