"Join, or Die" is a political cartoon, by Benjamin Franklin published before the Revolutionary War. It The cartoon appeared along with Franklin's editorial about the "disunited state" of the colonies, and helped make his 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.

Most Interesting Founder No One Knows- Gouverneur Morris

He died after a gruesome bit of self-surgery. He had gout for awhile and then got a urinary tract blockage. He then attempted to clear the obstruction by using a piece of whale bone as a catheter. Didn’t work, got an infection, & died (in the same room he was born in). He had a peg leg. He accidentally dropped boiling water on himself when he was 14 and then got in a horse/carriage accident which broke his ankle and multiple bones. (Some reports say he jumped out a window).

His family was very divided during the American Revolution His family was very divided during the American Revolution. One brother was a patriot, one a British General. Two sisters married loyalists & he became homeless for awhile (his mom was a loyalist & kicked him out). He spoke more than anyone else in the Constitutional Convention. 173 speeches- even though he was gone for a month! Many were anti-slavery (which wasn’t super common) He shaped NY City. He set up the avenues/grid system & the Erie Canal.

He wrote probably the most famous words in American History He wrote probably the most famous words in American History. “We, the people of the United States...” When he was 57 he married his housekeeper, who had been accused of killing her baby (who’s dad was her Brother-in-law). Theodore Roosevelt wrote a biography of Morris.