Final answer:
Benjamin Franklin's 'Join, or Die' political cartoon suggests that he felt the American colonies were not united. This cartoon was a product of the turbulent period leading up to the French and Indian War, articulating the need for greater colonial unity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin mentioned in the question is likely the well-known "Join, or Die" cartoon, which features a drawing of a segmented snake. If we interpret this correctly, it suggests that Benjamin Franklin believed the American colonies were not united. The segregated parts of the snake in the illustration represent the separate colonies, suggesting an urgent need for unity to effectively combat their problems. However, it's worth noting that this cartoon was published in 1754, long before the War of 1812.
The call for unity among the colonies gains more context if we consider the historical background of this period. At the time Franklin's cartoon was published, the French and Indian War was imminent in North America. Furthermore, Franklin designed this cartoon during the Albany Congress when he proposed the Albany Plan of Union - which aimed to unite the colonies under a single governmental body. His cartoon was a clear and innovative warning against disunity during a tumultuous stage in history.
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