Join, or Die

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/join-or-die

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote Join, or Die?Benjamin Franklin (attributed)
2. What is the artistic medium?Woodcut print
3. What is the date of first publication?May 9, 1754
4. What does the "Join, or Die" picture show?It shows a rattlesnake split into eight pieces, each piece has letters that stand for different colonies, like N.E. for New England, M for Maryland, and V for Virginia.
5. Why did Benjamin Franklin make the picture?He wanted to remind the colonies that if they stayed together, they could stay safe from enemies like the French and their Native American allies.

Political Allegory: The use of symbolic figures and actions to convey a political message or critique.
Intercolonial Cooperation: Collaboration and mutual support between different British colonies in North America.
Propaganda: Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.