Political Cartoon: The Albany Plan
US History/Napp Name: ______
Historical Context: The Albany Plan
“In the early 1750s, rivalry between England and France over who would control the North American continent led inexorably to what is known as the French and Indian Wars. This conflict lasted from 1756 to 1763, and left England the dominant power in the area that now comprises the eastern United States and Canada.
Aware of the strains that war would put on the colonies, English officials suggested a ‘union between ye Royal, Proprietary & Charter Governments.’ At least some colonial leaders were thinking along the same lines. In June 1754 delegates from most of the northern colonies and representatives from the Six Iroquois Nations met in Albany, New York. There they adopted a ‘plan of union’ drafted by Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania. Under this plan each colonial legislature would elect delegates to an American continental assembly presided over by a royal governor.
The plan is noteworthy in several respects. First of all, Franklin anticipated many of the problems that would beset the government created after independence, such as finance, dealing with the Indian tribes, control of commerce, and defense. In fact, it contains the seeds of true union, and many of these ideas would be revived and adopted in Philadelphia more than thirty years later.
After the plan was unveiled, the Crown did not push it since British officials realized that, if adopted, the plan could create a very powerful entity that His Majesty’s Government might not be able to control. The royal counselors need not have worried; the colonists were not ready for union, nor were the colonial assemblies ready to give up their recent and hard-won control over local affairs to a central government. That would not happen until well after the American settlements had declared their independence.”
~ constitution.org
Questions:
1-State a cause of the French and Indian Wars. ______
2-Date the French and Indian Wars. ______
3-State an effect of the French and Indian Wars. ______
4-Why did English officials suggest a union after the French and Indian Wars? ______
5-Who met in Albany in 1754? ______
6-What was adopted at the meeting? ______
7-What is noteworthy about the Albany Plan? ______
8-Why did British officials change their minds about the Plan? ______
9-Why were colonists not ready for union? ______
10-When would colonists be ready for union? ______
FRANKLIN’S ALBANY PLAN OF UNIONAND THE FIRST POLITICAL CARTOON
“Benjamin Franklin drew the cartoon below, and it is believed to bethe first cartoon published in the United States. He published it in hisPennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754, just before delegates of the colonistsmet at the Albany Congress. Franklin hoped it would generate supportfor his Plan of Union. Franklin’s cartoon was later used on flags andposters to support collaborations against British taxation of the coloniesunder the Stamp Act (1765) and to support revolution (1776).”
DIRECTIONS: Study the cartoon below, and then answer the questions thatfollow.
Cartoon Analysis Questions:
1-List the objects or people you see in the cartoon. ______
2-Identify the cartoon caption and/or title. ______
3-Locate three words or phrases used by the cartoonistto identify objects or people within the cartoon. ______
4-Record any important dates or numbers that appear inthe cartoon. ______
More: ANALYZING THE CARTOON
- Notice the letters next to each piece of the snake. What do these lettersstand for?
______
- Why does the snake have 8 pieces, and not 13?
______
3. Which of the following slogans best reflects the general theme ofFranklin’s cartoon? Circle your response.
a. In unity there is strength.
b. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
c. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
- What message was Franklin’s cartoon delivering to the delegates at theAlbany Congress?
______
CRITICAL THINKING
1-Drawing Conclusions Is Franklin’s message still relevant for politicallife today? Support your answer with specific references.
______
2-Expressing Problems Clearly
When Franklin drew this cartoon, manypeople mistakenly believed that if a snake were cut into pieces, thepieces could weave themselves back together. Knowing that this isincorrect, write a new caption for the cartoon to replace ‘Join, or Die.’
______
Explain the meaning of your new caption.
______
3-Synthesizing Information
How did the meaning of Franklin’s cartoonchange over the course of the French and Indian War and theRevolutionary War?
______
Many colonies objected to the Albany Plan because
1-Threats to colonial safety had ended
2-The plan gave too much power to Native American Indians
3-The colonies had just been given representation in Parliament
4-Colonial assemblies did not want to give up their individual power
Reflection:
If Franklin were alive today what symbols would he use to send the same message of unity to Americans? ______
Analyze the political cartoons:
Far Right Caption: “No peace without abolition!”
Middle Caption: “The Union must be preserved at all hazards.”
Far Left Caption: “No peace without separation.”
What event will threaten the preservation of the Union? ______
How did Northern states differ from Southern states over this issue and event? ______
President Abraham Lincoln believed that the Union must be preserved at all costs. Would Benjamin Franklin agree? Explain your answer. ______
More Cartoon Analysis:
Identify the three individuals in the political cartoon: ______
State one accomplishment of each individual in the political cartoon: ______
What is the meaning of the political cartoon? ______
Of course, now it is easier to identify this cartoon’s meaning. ______
Identify the important symbols in the political cartoon: ______
What is the deodorant in the cartoon? ______
What will happen to the “Lady” if she uses the deodorant? ______
What is the meaning of the political cartoon? ______
What is the meaning of the cartoon?