“Join, or Die” – Benjamin Franklin
The “Join, or Die” cartoon was created by Benjamin Franklin and is one of the earliest examples
of colonial unity. It symbolized the colonies as parts of a single snake, suggesting that survival
depended on cooperation. Franklin originally made it to encourage unity against outside threats,
but it later became a powerful symbol of resistance to British control and helped push the idea
that the colonies were stronger together than apart.
War May Have Been Inevitable
War may have been inevitable from the creation of the colonies because they were developing
their own identity long before open conflict began. Distance from Britain allowed colonists to
grow more independent, and over time, cultural, political, and economic differences made
separation increasingly likely.
Adaptations: Becoming Less British and More American
The colonies adapted to their environment in ways that made them less British and more
American. Survival required independence, self-reliance, and local decision-making. These
adaptations slowly created a distinct American identity separate from Britain.
Native American Cooperation
Early colonial survival depended heavily on cooperation with Native Americans. Native peoples
taught colonists essential farming techniques, trade practices, and survival skills. However, as
colonies expanded, this cooperation often turned into conflict as land demands increased.
Indentured Servants (Have-Nots)
Indentured servants were typically poor Europeans who exchanged years of labor for passage to
the colonies. They made up a large portion of the labor force early on and highlight the sharp
class divisions within colonial society.
Cash Crops
Cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo drove the colonial economy. While profitable, they
required intensive labor, which increased reliance on indentured servitude and later slavery,
shaping the colonies’ social and economic structure.
Headright System
The headright system granted land to colonists who paid for their own passage or sponsored
The “Join, or Die” cartoon was created by Benjamin Franklin and is one of the earliest examples
of colonial unity. It symbolized the colonies as parts of a single snake, suggesting that survival
depended on cooperation. Franklin originally made it to encourage unity against outside threats,
but it later became a powerful symbol of resistance to British control and helped push the idea
that the colonies were stronger together than apart.
War May Have Been Inevitable
War may have been inevitable from the creation of the colonies because they were developing
their own identity long before open conflict began. Distance from Britain allowed colonists to
grow more independent, and over time, cultural, political, and economic differences made
separation increasingly likely.
Adaptations: Becoming Less British and More American
The colonies adapted to their environment in ways that made them less British and more
American. Survival required independence, self-reliance, and local decision-making. These
adaptations slowly created a distinct American identity separate from Britain.
Native American Cooperation
Early colonial survival depended heavily on cooperation with Native Americans. Native peoples
taught colonists essential farming techniques, trade practices, and survival skills. However, as
colonies expanded, this cooperation often turned into conflict as land demands increased.
Indentured Servants (Have-Nots)
Indentured servants were typically poor Europeans who exchanged years of labor for passage to
the colonies. They made up a large portion of the labor force early on and highlight the sharp
class divisions within colonial society.
Cash Crops
Cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo drove the colonial economy. While profitable, they
required intensive labor, which increased reliance on indentured servitude and later slavery,
shaping the colonies’ social and economic structure.
Headright System
The headright system granted land to colonists who paid for their own passage or sponsored
