What was the significance of Join or die?

What was the significance of Join or die?

Join, or Die was a political cartoon and woodcut created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754. It was designed to unite the American colonies against the French and their Native allies at the start of the French and Indian War. It is thought to be the first political cartoon that advocated unification of the colonies.

Who was the intended audience for Join or die?

American colonists
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 symbolism does a snake cut into pieces have in the Join or Die flag?

When Franklin published the woodcut, it became the first political cartoon. It was based on a superstition, being that if a snake was cut in two and the pieces were put together before sunset, the snake would return to life.

What event did the Join or Die Flag make its first appearance?

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 …

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 does the snake represent in the political cartoon?

One of its earliest practitioners was American founding father Benjamin Franklin who, in 1754, published a cartoon, “Join or Die,” depicting a snake severed into pieces that symbolized the American colonies.

Why does the snake have 8 pieces?

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 do snakes stand for?

Historically, serpents and snakes represent fertility or a creative life force. As snakes shed their skin through sloughing, they are symbols of rebirth, transformation, immortality, and healing. The ouroboros is a symbol of eternity and continual renewal of life.

What does the entire snake represent?

The snake as a whole represents the colonies becoming one.

What does the snake segment represent?

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.

What does the snake represent in Christianity?

It can represent death, destruction, evil, a penetrating legless essence, and/or poison. In the Christian tradition, Satan (in the guise of the serpent) instigated the fall by tricking Eve into breaking God’s command. Thus the serpent can represent temptation, the devil, and deceit.

What does the phrase join or Die mean?

The phrase “Join or die” means just that: Unless you decide to ally with them, they will outmatch and destroy you.

What does the symbol join or Die mean?

The symbol stood as a representation of the disunited colonies and helped point to the importance of colonial unity. From the American Revolution to present day, the Join or Die Snake represents freedom, and what it takes to achieve and maintain it.

What does join or Die political cartoon mean?

Join, or Die. by Benjamin Franklin was recycled to encourage the former colonies to unite against British rule. Join, or Die. is a political cartoon attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

What does join or Die tattoo mean?

The Join or Die tattoo is a fantastic design to get if you like the message that it sends and you happen to like the meanings attached to the snake itself. The snake symbolizes transformation and energy, which are two fantastic meanings to have in any tattoo, but you also get to use all of the meanings used with the Join or Die design.