Attention Getter:

-Would you rather join or die? (Probably not)

-War anyone? (perhaps try to smile after this)

(Proceed to explain artifact) -> If the answer is yes to the following question, you’re in luck.  If the answer is no, then you’re still in luck, because there’s a war to fight, or rather, there was a war to fight (I’d imagine that the colonists ran into something similar.)

But why? -> Well, according to Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” Cartoon during the French and Indian War, colonists were urged to fight in the army (this is the purpose).

Elaboration on the Purpose and the Rhetorical Situation:

-Franklin’s purpose is to motivate colonists to fight against the French (but his underlying purpose is to unify the 13 colonies, intentionally (?)).

-Exigence: the literal war (uh oh).

-Audience: Franklin (the speaker) is addressing the colonial people to unite all the colonies as a strong front.

-Constraints: people don’t want to die, maybe this is why Franklin threatens them.  To be honest, this seems like a lose-lose situation anyways, so they might as well die fighting for their country.

Claims and Lenses:

-Through the Trust, Rhetorical Situation, and Visual Rhetoric lens, Benjamin Franklin urges colonists to combine their individual power to defeat the French.

Broader Context:

-Franklin appeals to pathos by evoking feelings of nationalism as a united country (or perhaps even feelings of fear since people don’t want to risk their lives).

-Also appeals to ethos as a respected and scholarly figure that is trusted by the public and the media.

-Catalyzed the American Revolution, which is ironic, since it juxtaposes the cartoon’s idea of fighting for the British (instead of against).

-Can be compared to other cartoons mocking the taxes and tarring and feathering (perhaps elaborate more on the effects).

Closer:

-This is relevant because it’s an important part of history that shaped the United States.

(Thank you for your time.)

One of the most insightful and powerful civic artifacts is Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” cartoon, created in 1754.  This phrase became a commonplace in its prime, since colonists followed and supported it in their every-day lives.  The segmented pieces of the snake resemble the separated colonies, which are appropriately labelled.  By connecting, or “rejoining,” the disjointed parts, the snake becomes whole and poses as a deadly threat, metaphorically conveying that the united 13 colonies pose as a growing power.

The rhetorical situation, in this case, is King George II’s battle against the French and his decree to employ the help of colonial militias.  Benjamin Franklin, an avowed colonist, and soon avowed patriot, responds to King George II’s decision and asserts his desire to protect the colonies during the French and Indian War.  Mainly, Franklin appeals to pathos, since he evokes feelings of nationalism and unity within the general public.  However, he also appeals to ethos, since he has already established himself as a scholar and respected voice of reason in numerous newspapers and other media.  This piece of war propaganda incorporates strong language, such as the threat of “death,” and motivates the audience to “join” the war and fight for their colony.  The colonists participate in civic engagement by serving in the military and raising awareness through protests in order to protect their communities.  With renowned trailblazers such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, the colonies succeeded in defeating the French’s attack from Canada.

Ironically, the unification of the colonists catalyzed the American Revolution, which caused another war against Great Britain.  The American Colonies’ newfound independence appeared to mock Great Britain, which juxtaposes the cartoon’s initial purpose, consequently enforcing the Stamp Act, Tea Act, and other taxing reforms.  This cartoon now caters to a new rhetorical situation: the American Colonies’ decision to separate from their mother country.  Clearly, Benjamin Franklin’s “Join or Die” cartoon is a significant civic artifact because it influenced not only the French and Indian War, but the American Revolution, which revolutionized the idea of democracy.

All historical references can be found at History.com.