The cartoon, created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754, depicts a snake cut into eight segments, each representing a British colony:
* N.E. - New England
* N.Y. - New York
* N.J. - New Jersey
* P. - Pennsylvania
* M. - Maryland
* V. - Virginia
* N.C. - North Carolina
* S.C. - South Carolina
The message of the cartoon was that the colonies, if they remained divided, would be weak and vulnerable to external threats. The snake, however, could be powerful and effective if the colonies united.