Join or Die Ruck

In 1754, Benjamin Franklin published America’s first political cartoon for the Pennsylvania Gazette, an early American newspaper. The cartoon is a representation of all of the British Colonies in a cut-up segmented rattlesnake, which Franklin described as “the present disunited state of the British Colonies.” It was based on a superstition that if a snake was cut into pieces and the pieces were put together before sunset, the snake would come back to life.

The French and Indian War was a part of the Seven Years' War which pitted Great Britain alongside the Thirteen Colonies and their native allies against the French and their native allies. During that time, the American colonists were divided on whether or not to risk fighting the French for control of the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. Franklin had been chosen as a delegate for an upcoming conference in Albany, New York, to deal with a combined threat to the British from French and Indian forces, and the cartoon was his first attempt to unite the colonies against the French.

Even though the cartoon was published long before the American Revolution, the illustration was later reused to promote independence from Britain. And that’s how most folks remember it nowadays.

Welcome to the Join or Die Ruck. You and your team will create your own “snake” from sandbags connected with carabiners, and then join together to carry it for the distance of your choice (3-5 miles). Ben Franklin’s snake had 8 segments, the length and weight of your team’s snake is up to you (we recommend 3-6 sandbags based upon the size of your club). As you move out together, you’ll need to coordinate a rotation of participants so that each person contributes effort throughout the ruck. You’re gonna want to schedule a ruckoff after this one to hoist a few frosty beverages in triumph.

DETAILS:

• Link 3-6 sandbags together to form a “snake”

• Connect them with carabiners

• Choose 20, 40, 60, 80, or 120 lb sandbags based on your team’s abilities…and the sandbags you have available

• Distance: 3–5 miles, your choice based on the level of your team

• Weight: rucker's choice

• Share on social media using #RUCKCLUBCALLOUT and tag @goruck