Question

How was the graphic "join, or die" used by Benjamin Franklin to promote the unity among the colonies?

a. It was a call for military recruitment.
b. It symbolized the need for alliances with Native American tribes.
c. It advocated for the unification of the American colonies against common threats.
d. It was a slogan for economic cooperation.

Answer 1

Benjamin Franklin's 'Join, or Die' cartoon advocated for the unification of the American colonies against common threats, serving as a symbol of colonial unity and the foundation for a central United States government.

Step-by-step explanation:

The graphic 'Join, or Die' created by Benjamin Franklin was used to promote unity among the colonies by advocating for the unification of the American colonies against common threats, which aligns with option 'c'. Franklin's cartoon, featuring a segmented snake representing the colonies, originally published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754, was a powerful symbol during the Revolutionary War era. It conveyed the idea that if the colonies did not join together, they would perish separately, reinforcing the need for a collective resistance against British rule.

Franklin drew inspiration from the Iroquois Nation, for whom union was advantageous. During the war, despite regional differences, nationalism grew, but the need for a central government was recognized in addition to patriotism for the common welfare. Eventually, the cartoon was seen as predictive of the formation of the United States, symbolizing the concept that many parts make up a whole