Iroquois Confederation's Influence On The Us Constitution

The influence of the Iroquois Confederation on the US Constitution has been a subject of debate. Some historians argue that the confederation, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, significantly influenced the founding fathers who drafted the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy, comprising six nations, was a sophisticated and thriving society with a multi-state government that ensured individual governance and freedom. This federal structure, known as the Great Law of Peace, allowed each tribe to handle its own affairs while uniting to address common issues. In 1988, the US Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the democratic principles and governmental structure of the US Constitution. However, others dispute the extent of this influence, arguing that it was minimal or non-existent.

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The Iroquois Confederacy was a real-life example of the political concepts the framers of the US Constitution wanted to adopt

The United States Constitution is one of the oldest continuous democracies in the world. The US Constitution was influenced by an even older democracy, the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The Iroquois Confederacy was a political system that united five nations: the Mohawks, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, the Oneida, and the Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois. Together, these six nations formed a multi-state government while maintaining their own individual governance.

The Iroquois Confederacy's democratic principles and governance structure influenced the development of the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy's constitution, known as the Great Law of Peace, included its Chiefs, Clan Mothers, and Faith Keepers, the delegates that form the regulatory bodies of the confederacy. The bicameral Congress of the US government can be compared to the Iroquois Confederacy's governance structure. The Clan Mothers, who were selected by consensus and served for life, had the authority to remove council members and have been compared to a high court.

The Iroquois Confederacy's concept of individual governance and freedom also influenced the US Constitution. Each of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy rules themselves while enjoying the peace and support brought to them by the Confederacy. This concept of individual governance and freedom is reflected in the US Constitution, which establishes a federal system of government with powers divided between the national government and state governments.

The Iroquois Confederacy's focus on sustainability and the well-being of future generations also influenced the framers of the US Constitution. A core tenet of the Iroquois Confederacy is the "seventh-generation principle," which dictates that decisions made today should lead to sustainability for seven generations into the future. This concept of long-term thinking and responsibility is inherent in the US Constitution, which includes provisions for the general welfare and the promotion of the common good.

The US Constitution's democratic principles were influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy

The United States Constitution is considered one of the oldest continuous democracies in the world. However, when the Founding Fathers met in 1787 to debate the form of government for the new nation, there were no contemporary democracies in Europe to draw inspiration from. The most democratic forms of government that the convention members had encountered were those of Native American nations. Of particular interest was the Iroquois Confederacy, which had already formed a multi-state government that ensured individual governance and freedom.

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, or the "People of the Long House", was founded several centuries ago by the Great Peacemaker, who united five nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. In around 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined them, bringing the total to six nations. The Confederacy was governed by a constitution called the Great Law of Peace, which may have been adopted as early as the 12th century or as late as the 17th century. This law allowed each tribe to handle its own affairs while coming together to solve issues of common importance.

The structure and principles of the Iroquois Confederacy had a significant influence on the framers of the U.S. Constitution. The concept of a confederation of independent states with a federalist system of government was appealing to the Founding Fathers. The Iroquois Confederacy provided a real-life example of the political concepts the framers were interested in adopting. The Great Law of Peace, with its focus on individual governance and freedom, echoed the democratic principles that the Founding Fathers wanted to incorporate into the U.S. Constitution.

In 1987, on the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, The New York Times published an article titled "Iroquois Constitution: A Forerunner to Colonists' Democratic Principles," highlighting the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the framers of the Constitution. Additionally, in 1988, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution and reaffirming the government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States.

The Iroquois Confederacy's federalist principles impressed the framers of the US Constitution

The United States Constitution is one of the oldest continuous democracies in the world. When the Founding Fathers met in 1787 to debate the form of government the United States should adopt, there were no contemporary democracies in Europe that they could emulate. The most democratic forms of government that the convention members had encountered were those of Native American nations, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy.

The Iroquois Confederacy was a multi-state government that ensured individual governance and freedom. The structure of the Confederacy represented five tribes: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. In around 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined them, and together, these six nations formed a multi-state government while maintaining their own individual governance. This stacked-government model influenced the thinking of constitutional framers.

The Iroquois Confederacy was governed by a constitution called the Great Law of Peace, which may have been adopted as early as the 12th century or as late as the 17th century. The Law of Peace included its Chiefs, Clan Mothers, and Faith Keepers, the delegates that form the regulatory bodies of the Confederacy. The bicameral Congress of the United States mirrors this structure. The Clan Mothers have been compared to a high court; they serve for life, have been selected by consensus, and have the authority to remove council members.

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The Iroquois Confederacy's Great Law of Peace inspired the US Constitution

The United States Constitution is one of the oldest continuous democracies in the world. It was established in 1787, at a time when there were no contemporary democracies in Europe. The framers of the Constitution were inspired by the democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, or the "People of the Long House". The Iroquois Confederacy was founded several centuries ago by the Great Peacemaker, who united five nations: the Mohawk, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, the Oneida, and the Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined them, and together they formed a multi-state government while maintaining their own individual governance.

The Iroquois Confederacy's constitution, known as the Great Law of Peace, was established in 1142 and may be the longest-standing democracy on Earth. The Law of Peace includes its Chiefs, Clan Mothers, and Faith Keepers, who form the regulatory bodies of the confederacy. The Clan Mothers have been compared to a high court; they serve for life, are selected by consensus, and have the authority to remove council members. The Iroquois Confederacy's federal structure, which allowed individual tribes to handle their own affairs while coming together to solve issues of common importance, impressed the framers of the Constitution.

The framers of the Constitution, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, admired the concepts, principles, and practices of the Iroquois Confederacy. Franklin, in particular, drew on the wisdom and democratic principles of the Iroquois in his attempts to unite the 13 colonies. In 1744, Franklin printed a speech by Onondaga leader Canassatego, who urged the colonies to unite as the Iroquois had, stating that "We heartily recommend Union and a good Agreement between you, our Brethren...Our wise Forefathers established Union and Amity between the Five Nations; this has made us formidable; this has given us great Weight and Authority with our neighbouring Nations." Franklin also invited representatives of the Iroquois Nations to the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania in 1744 and the Albany Congress in 1754.

In addition to influencing the formation of the United States, the Iroquois Confederacy also inspired the democratic principles incorporated into the Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy's commitment to individual governance and freedoms, as well as their focus on the \"seventh generation\" principle of sustainability, influenced the framers' thinking. In 1987, on the 200th anniversary of the Constitution, The New York Times published an article titled "Iroquois Constitution: A Forerunner to Colonists' Democratic Principles," acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy. In 1988, the United States Congress passed a resolution formally recognizing the impact of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution.

The US Constitution's framers were influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy's principle of individual governance and freedom

The United States Constitution is one of the oldest continuous democracies in the world. The US Constitution's framers were influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy's principle of individual governance and freedom. The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, or "People of the Long House", is a sophisticated and thriving society of well over 5,000 people. The confederacy, governed by a constitution called the Great Law of Peace, was founded in 1142 and may be the longest-standing democracy on earth.

The Iroquois Confederacy is a multi-state government that ensures individual governance and freedom. The structure of the Confederacy represented five tribes: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. The Tuscarora nation joined them in 1722. The Great Law of Peace is a doctrine of 117 codicils where individual tribes handle their own affairs but come together to solve issues of common importance. The Iroquois Confederacy is a democratic principle that focuses on the creation of strong kinship bonds that promote leadership in which honour is not earned by material gain but by service to others.

The framers of the US Constitution were influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy's principle of individual governance and freedom. In 1787, when the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met to debate the form of government the United States should have, there were no contemporary democracies in Europe that they could draw inspiration from. The most democratic forms of government that any of the convention members had encountered were those of Native American nations, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy. The confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was influenced by the political system developed by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles incorporated into the Constitution itself. The US Constitution's framers were impressed by how the Iroquois legislated their affairs and shortly thereafter, they drafted the US Constitution, echoing the Great Law of Peace.

In 1987, on the 200th anniversary of the US Constitution, The New York Times published an article titled "Iroquois Constitution: A Forerunner to Colonists' Democratic Principles". The article discusses how the Iroquois Confederacy influenced the framers of the US Constitution. Ben Franklin repeatedly drew on the wisdom and democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy and its constitution as he struggled to unite the 13 sparring colonies. Benjamin Franklin invited representatives of the Iroquois Nations to the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania in 1744 and the Albany Congress in 1754. He also published quotes from the Onondaga leader Canassatego to explain how uniting the colonies in the way the "indissoluble" confederacy had would build strength against outside nations.

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