What did the Join or Die flag mean?
Benjamin Franklin’s warning to the British colonies in America: “Join or Die.” Franklin’s goal was to unite the colonists to combat the French and their Native American allies, and to convince the British government to support a unified colonial government in America.
Why does Join or Die have 8 pieces?
It is a woodcut showing a snake cut into eighths, with each segment labeled with the initials of one of the American colonies or regions. New England was represented as one segment, rather than the four colonies it was at that time. Thus, it has eight segments of a snake rather than the traditional 13 colonies.
What do the letters represent in Join or die?
The letters next to the snake are abbreviations of each colony in geographical order, running south to north (South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, New England). Because of this, it can actually be viewed as a map of some sorts.
At what event did the Join or Die flag first appear?
The “Join, or Die” snake, a cartoon image printed in numerous newspapers as the conflict between England and France over the Ohio Valley was expanding into war—”the first global war fought on every continent,” as Thomas Bender recently has written—first appeared in the May 9, 1754 edition of Benjamin Franklin’s …
Who was the intended audience for Join or Die?
The historic “Join or Die” campaign persuaded the American colonists to unite with one another and England during the onset of the French and Indian War by utilizing an influential slogan, characters that directly represent the target audience, and a symbolic setting of a snake’s body.
What states have Join or Die flags?
Join or Die, the first political cartoon published in an American newspaper, illustrates Benjamin Franklin’s warning to the British colonies in America “join or die” and exhorting them to unite against the French and the Natives. It shows a segmented snake, “S.C., N.C., V., M., P., N.J., N.Y., [and] N.E.”
What does the entire snake represent?
The snake as a whole represents the colonies becoming one. what do the letters stand for under each section of the snake?
Why does the snake have 8 pieces not 13?
New England was represented as one segment, rather than the four colonies it was at that time. Delaware was not listed separately as it was part of Pennsylvania. Thus, it has eight segments of a snake rather than the traditional 13 colonies. …
What is the yellow snake flag?
The Gadsden flag is a historical American flag with a yellow field depicting a timber rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Beneath the rattlesnake are the words: “Dont Tread on Me”. It was used by the Continental Marines as an early motto flag, along with the Moultrie flag.
Who drew Join or Die?
Benjamin Franklin
On this day in 1754, Benjamin Franklin published one of the most famous cartoons in history: the Join or Die woodcut. Franklin’s art carried significant importance at the time and is considered an early masterpiece of political messaging. At the time, Franklin was the publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette.
What was the goal of Benjamin Franklin’s Join or Die campaign?
Why is it called Gadsden flag?
The flag is named after politician Christopher Gadsden (1724–1805), who designed it in 1775 during the American Revolution. It was used by the Continental Marines as an early motto flag, along with the Moultrie flag.
Why was the Join Or Die flag used?
After the American Revolution, the flag was still used and repurposed. In fact, the usage of snakes in certain American flags (such as the Gadsden or the First Navy Jack) were inspired by the “Join, Or Die” illustration. Overall, the “Join, or Die” political cartoon played a major role in uniting the Colonies to a Union.
Is the American flag still used after the American Revolution?
After the American Revolution, the flag was still used and repurposed. In fact, the usage of snakes in certain American flags (such as the Gadsden or the First Navy Jack) were inspired by the “Join, Or Die” illustration.
Why was join or Die important in the Revolutionary War?
It became a symbol of colonial freedom during the American Revolutionary War. The difference between the use of Join or Die in 1754 and 1765 is that Franklin had designed it to unite the colonies for ‘management of Indian relations’ and defense against France, but in 1765 American colonists used it to urge colonial unity against the British.
When did the Join Or Die banner first appear?
“JOIN, OR DIE” – A Symbolic Banner in America’s History The “Join, or Die” illustration was first published in 1754 by Benjamin Franklin as a political cartoon for the Pennsylvania Gazette, an early American newspaper.