Albany Plan facts for kids

The Albany Plan of Union was an important idea from 1754. It aimed to create a single, united government for the Thirteen Colonies in North America. This plan was suggested by Benjamin Franklin, a well-known leader from Pennsylvania, during a meeting called the Albany Congress on July 10, 1754, in Albany, New York.

Franklin had spent time with the Iroquois people and learned from their ways of working together. He urged the colonial leaders to consider his plan. More than twenty representatives from several northern colonies had gathered to discuss how to defend themselves. This was because of the start of the French and Indian War (1754–1763), which was part of a bigger war between Great Britain and France called the Seven Years' War. The war started in North America after George Washington's army faced a defeat in the Ohio Valley.

The Albany Plan was one of the first attempts to bring the colonies together "under one government." This was mainly for defense and other important shared goals. Even though the plan was not approved, it was a very early idea that later helped shape the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution.

Why Was the Plan Needed?

The Albany Congress met to talk about the plan. A group of delegates looked at different ideas, but they chose Franklin's plan with a few small changes. People like Benjamin Chew, Richard Peters, and Isaac Norris helped with this.

The plan went beyond just thinking about immediate defense against France. The northern colonies were very worried because they shared a border with the French colony in Canada. The middle colonies were also affected by different Native American groups who had loyalties to either France or Great Britain, often based on trade. Colonies in New England and the north had often been attacked from Canada during conflicts. The Albany Plan was the first time anyone suggested uniting the colonies specifically for defense. To help people understand and support his idea, Benjamin Franklin even created a famous political cartoon called Join, or Die.

What Did the Plan Suggest?

The Albany Plan proposed a general government with two main parts:

• A President-General: This person would be chosen and supported by the British King.
• A Grand Council: This council would be made up of delegates chosen by the local governments (assemblies) in each colony.

Under the plan, the number of delegates from each colony would depend on its size. For example, Virginia could have up to seven delegates, while smaller colonies would have at least two. However, each colony would only get one vote, and decisions needed everyone to agree (unanimous consensus).

The proposed government would have important powers. It could make treaties with Native American groups, raise armies, and build naval forces. Most importantly, it would have the power to collect taxes.

Why Was the Plan Rejected?

After much discussion, the delegates at the Congress agreed on the plan. They sent copies to each colonial assembly and to the British Board of Trade in London, which had originally suggested the meeting. However, both the colonial assemblies and the British government rejected the Albany Plan.

Benjamin Franklin later wrote that the colonial assemblies and most people were too focused on their own colony. They were often jealous of each other and didn't trust a central government that could tax them. Many in the British government also didn't like the idea of giving more power to the colonial assemblies. They preferred that the colonies focus on helping with the upcoming war. The Board of Trade never even asked the King for official approval of the plan. Instead, they suggested that colonial governors and their councils should raise troops and build forts. Great Britain would pay for this, but Parliament later imposed taxes on the colonies to get that money back.

How Did It Influence Later Ideas?

Even though the Albany Plan failed, its ideas were not forgotten.

• Galloway's Plan of Union: This plan, suggested at the First Continental Congress, was very similar to the Albany Plan. However, it was quickly rejected in favor of more radical ideas as the colonies moved closer to independence.
• Articles of Confederation: The Second Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation in 1777, during the American Revolution. This was the first American constitution. It was approved in 1781 and laid the groundwork for the current U.S. Constitution.

See Also

• Join, or Die