Benjamin Franklin did not, no he didn’t, write the first American novel. However, as a printer, he did publish the first novel in America. The first novel written in plain English was “Pamela” by Samuel Richardson. That was published in London in 1742. Benjamin Franklin brought it to America and published it himself in his printing shop in 1744.

Franklin was a very successful printer. He also published the first political cartoon. We should pay some attention to it today with the current repercussions from our Presidential election. As the French and Indian war was beginning, Franklin was again at the forefront. In Albany, New York, in 1754, Ben proposed a union of all the colonies to Congress at that city.

He sketched a design to signify that need for uniting. The cartoon was a snake carved up into 13 pieces, to signify the 13 colonies, separated. To further dramatize the need for uniting he printed underneath the sketch the words “Unite or Die.” The general popularity of Ben’s published cartoon led to the additional motto: “Don’t Tread on Me.”

Both were placed on the Flag raised by rebelling colonists some 20 years later. We should make this Flag popular once again in America!