The French and British were competing for North American Territory

The British win the war and their empire expands its territory to all land east of the Mississippi River

 George Washington gained popularity and respect for fighting valiantly in the war.  Washington learns British war tactics by fighting along side of them against the French.  Washington would later be asked to lead the Continental Army against the British in the War for Independence.  Following the war, Washington would become our nation’s first president.

 Following the war, the King of England issues the Proclamation of 1763 which declares that colonists cannot move west of the Appalachian Mountains.  The King does not want to stir up trouble with the Native Americans following a costly war.

In order to pay of a large war debt, Britain taxes the colonists  Stamp Act  Tea Act  Townshend Act

 Colonists are unhappy about having no say (representation) over the new laws and taxes.  These colonists call themselves patriots and rebel against the tyranny of the king.

 This leads to WAR!  Also known as the War for Independence

The original "JOIN, or DIE" cartoon was created by Benjamin Franklin and first published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in It is often sited as the first America political cartoon.  What does the snake represent? The thirteen colonies

What is symbolic about the snake’s head?  It represents the New England colonies.  They were predominantly filled with English settlers.  That is where many of the pre-war protests took place and where many of the leaders were located.

What message is Franklin trying to convey in 1754?  The cartoon helped make a point about the importance of colonial unity.  During that era, there was a superstition that a snake which had been cut into pieces would come back to life if the pieces were put together before sunset.  At that time, the colonists were divided on whether to fight the French and their Indian allies.  It became a symbol for the need of organized action against an outside threat posed by the French and Indians in the mid 18th century.  Franklin had proposed the Albany Plan and his cartoon suggested that such a union was necessary to avoid destruction.

"The Confidence of the French in this Undertaking seems well-grounded on the present disunited State of the British Colonies, and the extreme Difficulty of bringing so many different Governments and Assemblies to agree in any speedy and effectual Measures for our common defense and Security; while our Enemies have the very great Advantage of being under one Direction, with one Council, and one Purse....“ Benjamin Franklin

 What message is Franklin trying to convey in 1764?  The 13 colonies must unite to defeat the British or forever be under their tyrannical rule.