In June of 1754, representatives of seven colonies met in Albany, New York, to discuss ways of cooperating and protecting themselves from the French military in Canada. At this conference, Franklin proposed a plan for uniting the colonies into a confederation for mutual protection under a "grand council." Franklin’s visionary proposal was the earliest formal plan for uniting the colonies. The "Albany Plan" that was finally adopted did not reflect Franklin’s emphasis on uniting the colonies for mutual protection.