When was join or die created

Georgia and Delaware are not portrayed on it, and the New England colonies are listed together rather than having their separate segments. Originally, the cartoon was created as a woodcut, which is an illustration carved on a piece of wood. 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. Source The cartoon was recognized for its meaning and many newspapers reprinted the cartoon throughout the colonies. Franklin expressed in his editorial that the colonies would become stronger if they were united. A union was deemed necessary. This cartoon appeared in Ben Franklin's newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, as part of an editorial by Franklin commenting on 'the present disunited state of the British Colonies.

The woodcut drawing pictures a divided snake in eight pieces representing as many colonial governments. The drawing was based on the popular superstition that a snake that had been cut in two would come to life if the pieces were joined before sunset.

The drawing immediately caught the public's fancy and was reproduced in other newspapers. Please allow one business day for replies from NCpedia. Skip to main content. Printer-friendly page Printer-friendly page Join, or Die This iconic illustration, commonly associated with the American Revolution, was originally published in The Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, and has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin.

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