During the Albany Congress in 1754, a meeting of several British colonies to determine how best to work together, Benjamin Franklin proposed what he called the Albany Plan of Union. At the time of the Albany Plan’s proposal, the colonies lacked unity, which is what the plan sought to fix. The main suggestion within the document was to create a centralized government and to make sure there were defenses for the coming war against the French and their Native American allies. Some historians have argued that Franklin was inspired by the confederations set up by Native American tribes as his plan appeared to follow a similar format. Interestingly, the Albany Plan did not call for the American colonies’ independence. Instead, it proposed the formation of a Grand Council with elected members from the colonies who would oversee matters that pertained to Indian affairs, military affairs, defense, expansion, and trade. The plan also proposed a president-general who would preside over the government. The Albany Plan was viewed with positivity, although it was struck down by the king and Parliament due to fears concerning their loss of power over their colonial holdings. Although ultimately the plan failed, it was an important step in uniting the thirteen colonies during and after the French and Indian War (1754–63), which was part of a larger conflict known in Europe as the Seven Years’ War. Portions of the plan eventually influenced the U.S. Constitution.