Simone Lawson
The Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, is believed to have influenced the American Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy was a thriving democratic system established in what became New York State, long before Europeans arrived in North America. The confederacy, composed of several nations, was united under the Great Law of Peace, which emphasised peaceful coexistence and federalist principles. Several founding fathers, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, had direct interactions with the Haudenosaunee and were exposed to their political and social systems. Franklin, for instance, printed the proceedings of Indian treaties and attended Iroquois councils, later incorporating Iroquois elements into his Albany Plan. The similarities between the symbols and governing principles of the Haudenosaunee and the United States suggest that the former played a role in shaping the emerging American democracy and the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unity and peace | Both the Haudenosaunee and the US constitutions stress the importance of unity and peace. |
| Symbols | The seal of the US uses an eagle clutching a bundle of 13 arrows, signifying the original 13 colonies, while the Haudenosaunee's Great Law features five arrows bound together, signifying the unity and strength of the five nations. |
| Two-house congress | The US Constitution's two-house congress is similar to the Haudenosaunee's Grand Council, which is divided into sections of Elder Brothers and Younger Brothers. |
| Federalism | The Iroquois Confederacy's federalist principles were admired by the constitutional framers. |
| Democratic principles | The Haudenosaunee's democratic principles influenced the US Constitution. |
| Governance structure | The US Constitution's governance structure was influenced by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. |
| Founding principles | Constitutional convention members like Benjamin Franklin were familiar with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's founding principles. |
| Oral tradition | The Haudenosaunee's reliance on oral tradition and symbolism is reflected in the early history of the US, where foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were read aloud and discussed in public forums. |
| Commitment to peace | The Haudenosaunee's symbol of the "Tree of Peace" illustrates their commitment to peaceful coexistence, a value that also found its way into American ethos. |
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What You'll Learn
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy's democratic principles
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, is believed to have influenced the democratic principles of the American Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy dates back several centuries, to when the Great Peacemaker founded it by uniting five nations: the Mohawks, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, the Oneida, and the Seneca. The Tuscarora nation joined them later.
The Iroquois Confederacy provided a real-life example of some of the political concepts that the framers of the American Constitution were interested in adopting. The constitutional framers admired the federalist principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, such as the notion of federalism and the idea of a multi-state government with a unified legislature, while maintaining their own individual governance.
The Great Law of Peace, established as the governing principle of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in 1142, also influenced the democratic principles of the American Constitution. The law included provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion, the right of redress before the Grand Council, and the removal of leaders who could not adequately function, similar to the 25th Amendment of the American Constitution. The Iroquois also built checks and balances into their processes of consensus based on public opinion.
The symbols and oral traditions of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy also influenced the democratic principles of the American Constitution. The "Tree of Peace," represented by a white pine tree, symbolized the end of wars and the establishment of peace among the member nations. This symbol illustrated a strong commitment to peaceful coexistence, a value that was also emphasized in the American ethos.
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The influence of Benjamin Franklin
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, is recognised as influencing the American Constitution. This confederacy was a union of six Native American nations that practised participatory democracy for centuries before the United States was founded. The influence of the Haudenosaunee on the American Constitution is also apparent in the similarities between their symbols. While the Great Law of the Haudenosaunee features five arrows bound together to represent the unity and strength of the five nations, the seal of the United States uses an eagle clutching a bundle of thirteen arrows, representing the original thirteen colonies.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is known to have admired the concepts, principles, and governmental practices of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. He was immersed in the treaty councils brought to him by Conrad Weiser, a man who had gained the respect of the Haudenosaunee and had been adopted into the Mohawk nation. Franklin's involvement with the Haudenosaunee and their government is evident in several instances.
Firstly, in 1747, Franklin collaborated with Cadwallader Colden on the subject of a colonial union suggested by Canassatego, the then Chief of the Onondaga. Colden had written and published "History of the Five Indian Nations Depending on the Province of New York in America" in 1727 and reissued it in 1744, with Franklin reviewing and appraising the work. Franklin and Colden often discussed the idea of a colonial union, which Franklin took seriously and began to execute.
Secondly, Franklin was influenced by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's model of government, which was a multi-state government with each nation maintaining its individual governance. This influenced his plan following the Albany Congress, where he proposed federating all British American colonies under a single legislature with a president-general appointed by the Crown. While this plan did not succeed at the time, it demonstrated Franklin's adoption of the Haudenosaunee model, including the requirement for all states to agree on a course of action before implementation.
Thirdly, Franklin's understanding of the Haudenosaunee government is evident in a 1751 letter, where he describes the need for the thirteen colonies to form a "voluntary union" similar to that of the Iroquois Confederacy. He recognised the longevity and strength of their union and advocated for a similar alliance among the English colonies.
Finally, Franklin's printing business in Philadelphia played a role in disseminating information about the Haudenosaunee. Starting in 1736, he printed small books containing the proceedings of Indian treaty councils, further spreading knowledge about the Haudenosaunee government and potentially influencing other Founding Fathers.
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The Iroquois Confederacy's federalist principles
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, is believed to have influenced the federalist principles of the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy was a union of the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Onondaga nations, with the later inclusion of the Tuscarora nation. This confederacy, governed by the Great Law of Peace, served as a real-life example of the political concepts that the framers of the US Constitution sought to implement.
Benjamin Franklin, one of the key figures in drafting the US Constitution, had direct interactions with the Haudenosaunee and was exposed to their political and social systems. In 1744, Franklin printed the proceedings of the Lancaster Treaty, which included a speech by Canassatego, the Tadadaho of the Iroquois Confederacy. In his speech, Canassatego advised the colonists to unite as one nation on an Iroquois federal model. Franklin also attended Iroquois councils and witnessed their ceremonies, gaining a deep understanding of their governance principles.
Another founding father, Thomas Jefferson, also interacted with the Haudenosaunee and was exposed to their political and social systems. The Great Law of Peace, which established the Iroquois Confederacy, included provisions that guaranteed freedom of religion and the right of redress before the Grand Council, similar to the protections later outlined in the United States Bill of Rights. The Iroquois Confederacy's federalist principles, including their notion of federalism and checks and balances, provided a foundation for the democratic ideals that would shape the US government.
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The Great Law of Peace
The united Iroquois nations are symbolized by an eastern white pine tree, called the Tree of Peace. The Tree of Peace symbolized the end of wars and the establishment of peace among the member nations. It illustrates a strong commitment to peaceful coexistence, a value that also found its way into the American ethos. Each nation or tribe plays a delineated role in the conduct of government. The laws, called a constitution, are divided into 117 articles.
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The role of symbols
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, has been recognised by the US Senate as having influenced the construction of the US Constitution. The Confederacy was a democratic system established in what would become New York State, long before Europeans arrived in North America.
The Iroquois Confederacy was a confederation of nations governed by their Great Law of Peace, which established a multi-state government while allowing each nation to maintain its own individual governance. The Great Law of Peace also included provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion and the right of redress, and it forbade unauthorized entry into homes.
The symbols of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy also played a role in influencing the American Constitution. The Great Law features five arrows bound together, representing the unity and strength of the five nations. Similarly, the seal of the United States uses an eagle clutching a bundle of 13 arrows, representing the original 13 colonies. Another important symbol of Haudenosaunee culture is the "Tree of Peace," typically represented by a white pine tree. This symbolises the end of wars and the establishment of peace among the member nations, illustrating a strong commitment to peaceful coexistence, a value that also became important in the American ethos.
The founding fathers of the United States, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington, had direct interactions with the Haudenosaunee and were exposed to their political and social systems. Franklin, in particular, was invited into Iroquois councils and witnessed a condolence ceremony in 1753. He also proposed the "Albany Plan" in 1754, which attempted to unite the colonies based on a combination of Iroquois and European elements. While the plan failed to gain ratification, it served as a rough draft for later federal designs, including Franklin's contributions to the US Constitution.
In conclusion, the symbols of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, such as the five arrows and the "Tree of Peace," influenced the founding fathers' thinking and played a role in shaping the American Constitution. The founding fathers' interactions with the Haudenosaunee and their exposure to Haudenosaunee symbols and values contributed to the development of the American ethos and democratic principles.
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Frequently asked questions
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, known to French colonists as the Iroquois League and to English colonists as the League of Five Nations (later, Six Nations), was a confederation of nations with a democratic system of governance. The nations included the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga, and later, the Tuscarora.
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy influenced the American Constitution through their democratic principles and federalist concepts. The Iroquois Confederacy's structure, with its emphasis on unity and peace, served as a real-life example for the framers of the Constitution. The Great Law of Peace, established as the governing principle, promoted peaceful coexistence and included provisions for freedom of religion, removal of leaders, and checks and balances, resonating with the values that shaped the American ethos.
Yes, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers, was immersed in the Haudenosaunee treaty councils and had interactions with their leaders. He reviewed and discussed works like "The History of the Five Indian Nations Depending on the Province of New-York in America." Franklin's Albany Plan proposed uniting the colonies, drawing inspiration from the Iroquois model. Additionally, John Adams's "Defence of the Constitutions" described the Iroquois "fifty families," reflecting their influence on his thinking.
Yes, in 1987, the Senate recognized the impact of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy on the construction of the Constitution. A resolution passed in 1988 formally acknowledged this influence and reaffirmed the government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States.
