In 1754, Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union at a conference of colonial representatives in Albany, New York. The plan called for a unified colonial government to manage relations with Native Americans and coordinate defense. Although the plan was rejected by the colonies and the Crown, it was a significant early attempt to create a colonial federation. It laid the groundwork for the concept of a unified American government and is considered a precursor to the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution.

The Albany Plan of Union is a key event in the intellectual history of American nationhood, a theme that is central to American literature. Franklin's proposal and his famous 'Join, or Die' cartoon are iconic symbols of colonial unity that have been referenced in political writing and poetry. The plan is often cited in works that explore the origins of American federalism and the development of a national identity.