Who created the 1754 political cartoon titled Join, or Die?

Benjamin Franklin created the 1754 political cartoon titled Join, or Die.

Franklin published the cartoon in his Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754. It showed a snake divided into sections, each labeled with an abbreviation for a British American colony or region.

The image urged the colonies to cooperate during the French and Indian War. At the time, Franklin was arguing that divided colonies would be less able to defend themselves against France and its Indigenous allies.

The cartoon became famous again during the American Revolution. Patriots reused and adapted its message to encourage colonial unity against British rule, making it an early visual symbol of intercolonial cooperation.