Join, or Die

By: Danielle Singleton

Background InformationPublished in the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754 by Benjamin Franklin to try and unite the colonies to enter the French and Indian War.

WHAT DOES THE TITLE MEAN?

Benjamin Franklin chose this title so that the colonies would understand that they were not strong as separated colonies and that if they did not join together they would surely lose the war and many would die.

WHO IS THE INTENDED AUDIENCE?

The intended audience for this cartoon was the British colonies in 1754.

HOW DOES THIS APPEAL TO PATHOS?

This cartoon appeals to emotions in the way that the colonists will not want to die. They will want the victory of winning and they will unite to get that feeling of being the victor in the French and Indian War.

HOW DOES THIS APPEAL TO ETHOS?

Benjamin Franklin creates credibility because he was a very revered American Patriot and master inventor during his time.

HOW DOES THIS APPEAL TO LOGOS?

This cartoon appeals to logos because it is logical that the colonies would be stronger together than they would be separated.

WHAT IS THE POINT OF VIEW?

I believe the point of view is first person because it’s from Benjamin Franklins perspective and he is telling the colonies that they need to come together to be stronger or the French will take advantage of their disunion and they will die.

WHAT ARE THE TECHNIQUES USED?

Benjamin Franklin uses a plain white background with a double line black border. At the bottom of the cartoon is the title Join, or Die and above the title is the snake that is broken up into eight sections that represent the eight colonies that did not want to join to fight in the French and Indian War.

Works Citedhttp://www.teachamericanhistory.org/File/Join_or_Die_1.pdf

Sources:The Avalon Project -- www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amerdoc/albany.htmLouis P. Masur, ed. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin with Related Documents 2nd ed. (Boston, 2003)Gordon Wood, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin (New York, 2004) Leonard Labaree et. al., eds. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (New Haven, 1959-) Timothy J. Shannon, Indians and Colonists at the Crossroads of Empire: The Albany Congress of 1754 (Ithaca, New York, 2000) Robert C. Newbold, The Albany Congress and the Plan of Union of 1754 (1955)

(My website got its information from these websites)