Excerpt from a letter by Benjamin Franklin to James Parker, March 20, 1751 I have, as you desire, read the Manuscript you sent me; and am of Opinion, with the publick-spirited Author, that securing the Friendship of the Indians is of the greatest Consequence to these Colonies; and that the surest Means of doing it, are, to regulate the Indian Trade, so as to convince them, by Experience, that they may have the best and cheapest Goods, and the fairest Dealing from the English; and to unite the several Governments, so as to form a Strength that the Indians may depend on for Protection, in Case of a Rupture with the French; or apprehend great Danger from, if they should break with us. . . .

A voluntary Union entered into by the Colonies themselves, I think, would be preferable to one impos’d by Parliament; for it would be perhaps not much more difficult to procure, and more easy to alter and improve, as Circumstances should require, and Experience direct. It would be a very strange Thing, if six Nations of ignorant Savages should be capable of forming a Scheme for such an Union, and be able to execute it in such a Manner, as that it has subsisted Ages, and appears indissoluble; and yet that a like Union should be impracticable for ten or a Dozen English Colonies, to whom it is more necessary, and must be more advantageous; and who cannot be supposed to want an equal Understanding of their Interests.

Were there a general Council form’d by all the Colonies, and a general Governor appointed by the Crown to preside in that Council, or in some Manner to concur with and confirm their Acts, and take Care of the Execution; every Thing relating to Indian Affairs and the Defence of the Colonies, might be properly put under their Management. Each Colony should be represented by as many Members as it pays Sums of Hundred Pounds into the common Treasury for the common Expence; which Treasury would perhaps be best and most equitably supply’d, by an equal Excise on strong Liquors in all the Colonies, the Produce never to be apply’d to the private Use of any Colony, but to the general Service. Perhaps if the Council were to meet successively at the Capitals of the several Colonies, they might thereby become better acquainted with the Circumstances, Interests, Strength or Weakness, &c. of all, and thence be able to judge better of Measures propos’d from time to time: At least it might be more satisfactory to the Colonies, if this were propos’d as a Part of the Scheme; for a Preference might create Jealousy and Dislike.

Use the excerpt from Benjamin Franklin’s letter to James Parker to answer the question.

Analyze the excerpt from Benjamin Franklin’s letter to explain how competition among European powers led to the French and Indian War and encouraged unity among the colonies. Using the excerpt above, answer (A), (B), (C), and (D)

A. What reasons does Franklin give for uniting colonial governments? Your response should be 4-6 sentences in length.

B. Why does Franklin say that the colonies should come together themselves rather than waiting for the British Crown to appoint a government over them? Your response should be 4-6 sentences in length.

C. What circumstances made this discussion necessary? Your response should be 4-6 sentences in length.

D. How were those conditions rooted in long-standing conflicts? Your response should be 4-6 sentences in length.