Eleanor Finch
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, represents six nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. The Iroquois Constitution is a governing document created by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a group of Native American tribes in North America. The Iroquois Confederacy originally consisted of five nations before the Tuscarora joined in the 18th century. The Constitution outlines the roles and responsibilities of each nation within the confederacy and emphasizes the importance of unity and consensus in decision-making.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Nations Represented | Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora |
| Other Names | The Great Law of Peace, Iroquois Confederacy |
| Date | Late 12th century (c. 1190) |
| Original Number of Nations | Five Nations |
| Sixth Nation Added | Tuscarora, added in 1722 |
| Number of Articles | 117 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace
- The six nations represented: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora
- The influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the US Constitution
- The role of each nation within the Iroquois Confederacy
- The history and origins of the Iroquois Constitution
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace
The Iroquois Confederacy is the oldest living participatory democracy on earth, founded in 1142 by the Great Peacemaker. The confederacy originally consisted of five separate nations: the Mohawks, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca, who were previously enmeshed in continuous inter-tribal conflicts. The Great Peacemaker brought peace to the five nations, uniting them into a League of Nations. Each nation maintained its own leadership, but they agreed that common causes would be decided in the Grand Council of Chiefs, based on peace and consensus rather than fighting.
The laws, called a constitution, are divided into 117 articles. The united Iroquois nations are symbolized by an eastern white pine tree, called the Tree of Peace. Each nation or tribe plays a delineated role in the conduct of government. The narratives of the Great Law exist in the languages of the member nations, so spelling and usage vary. The Great Law of Peace is presented as part of a narrative noting laws and ceremonies to be performed at prescribed times.
The Iroquois Constitution and the Great Law of Peace have had a significant influence on the development of democratic institutions across the world. In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed Concurrent Resolution 331, recognizing the influence of the Iroquois Constitution upon the American Constitution and Bill of Rights. The resolution acknowledged that the confederation of the original Thirteen Colonies into one republic was influenced by the political system and democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy. However, the influence of the Six Nations' law on the U.S. Constitution is disputed by scholars, who point to several differences between the two forms of government.
Adapting the Constitution: Changes for a Modern World
You may want to see also
The six nations represented: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee ("People of the Longhouse"), is made up of six nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. The confederacy is believed to have been formed between 1570 and 1600, and it is considered one of the world's oldest participatory democracies. The Iroquois Constitution, known as the Great Law of Peace, served as a model for the federal structure of the U.S. Constitution and inspired the principles of individual liberty and the separation of powers.
The Mohawk people played a significant role in the establishment of the Great Peace. Hiawatha, a visionary culture hero, taught the Mohawk songs, including the "Hymn of Peace," which was sung during the conversion of Atotarhoh, a fearsome sorcerer. The Mohawk nation was one of the original five member nations that ratified the Great Law of Peace near modern-day Victor, New York.
The Oneida Nation also has a notable presence in the history of the Iroquois Confederacy. Hiawatha, after encountering members of the Oneida Nation, presented the Great Law of Peace to the council, uniting the five nations into a League of Nations. The Oneida people were instrumental in spreading the message of peace and harmony among the Iroquois peoples.
The Onondaga Nation holds a special significance in the Iroquois Confederacy. Hiawatha lived among the Onondaga people during a time of great discord, and it was in their territory that the Tree of Peace, an eastern white pine, was uprooted to symbolise the burial of weapons and the end of conflict. The Onondaga leader Canassatego's speech urging the unification of the thirteen colonies left a lasting impression on Benjamin Franklin, who printed the speech.
The Cayuga, or Gayogo̱hó:nǫ’ ("People of the Great Swamp"), were known for their inclusive communities and their strong alliance with the British during the French and Indian War. However, following the American Revolution, many Cayuga relocated to Canada, joining the Iroquois diaspora in Ontario and other parts of Canada and the U.S.
The Seneca, or Onödowa’ga:’ ("People of the Great Hill"), were the largest of the nations in the early Iroquois Confederacy. They had a significant military force, with the ability to assemble up to 1,000 warriors. Notable Seneca chiefs included Cornplanter, Ganioda’yo ("Handsome Lake"), and Red Jacket. The Seneca suffered greatly during the Revolution due to their alliance with the British and were able to secure land reservations in 1797.
The Tuscarora became the sixth nation to join the Iroquois Confederacy in 1722, after migrating north from North Carolina, where they had endured enslavement by the British. The addition of the Tuscarora completed the union of the Six Nations, each with its own leadership but united by the common cause of peace and harmony.
Constitutional Monarchy: Decision-Making Process Explained
You may want to see also
The influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the US Constitution
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, is an oral constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy. It is represented by symbols on wampum belts, which are shell-bead belts that encode a message through a sequence of pictograms. The laws are divided into 117 articles, with each nation or tribe playing a delineated role in the conduct of the government.
The Iroquois Confederacy was formed by uniting five nations: the Mohawks, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, the Oneida, and the Seneca. In 1722, the sixth nation, the Tuscarora, joined the Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee. Each nation maintained its own leadership, but they agreed that common causes would be decided by the Grand Council of Chiefs. The concept was based on peace and consensus rather than fighting.
The Iroquois Constitution has been recognized as having influenced the US Constitution. In 1988, Congress passed a resolution acknowledging this influence. The Iroquois Confederacy provided a real-life example of some of the political concepts that the framers of the US Constitution wanted to adopt. For instance, the Iroquois Confederacy's structure represented five tribes that handled their own affairs but came together to solve issues of common importance. This influenced the thinking of constitutional framers, who sought to borrow aspects of Iroquois government that enabled them to assert the sovereignty of the people.
However, the influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the US Constitution is disputed by some scholars. There are several differences between the two forms of government, including the method of decision-making and the basis of representation. Additionally, there is a lack of evidence in US constitutional debate records to support the claim of Iroquois influence. Despite this, it is recognized that the interaction between early colonists and Native Americans, including the Iroquois, influenced the development of colonial society and culture.
Magna Carta and US Constitution: Shared Roots
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![50 Events That Shaped American Indian History: An Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic [2 volumes]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/912gRDfigZL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The role of each nation within the Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, is a union of six Native American nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Each nation within the confederacy has a distinct language, territory, and function, and they all play a specific role within the metaphorical longhouse.
The Mohawk nation is the keeper of the eastern door, while the Seneca nation guards the western door. The Onondagas, situated in the middle, are the keepers of the central fire. Together, these three nations are known as the Elder Brothers and represent half of the longhouse families.
The remaining three nations, the Cayuga, Oneida, and Tuscarora, are referred to as the Younger Brothers and represent the other half of the longhouse families. Each nation maintains its own council, with Chiefs chosen by the Clan Mother, and handles its internal affairs while allowing the Grand Council to address issues affecting the entire confederacy.
The Iroquois Confederacy operates as a unique representational form of government, with the Great Law of Peace serving as its oral constitution. This law emphasizes peace and consensus, with decisions made by a consensus of male chiefs who gain their positions through a combination of blood descent and selection by female relatives. Each nation has a war chief responsible for conveying messages to and from their chiefs and taking up arms in emergencies.
The confederacy was founded to unite the nations and promote peaceful decision-making, with a shared goal of harmonious coexistence. The exact date of its formation is unknown but is estimated to be between 1450 and 1660, bringing together five nations initially and later expanding to include the sixth nation, the Tuscarora, in 1722.
Violence and Social Order: Understanding the Complex Relationship
You may want to see also
The history and origins of the Iroquois Constitution
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, is the oral constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy. The Iroquois Confederacy originally consisted of five nations: the Mohawks, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, the Oneida, and the Seneca. In around 1722, the sixth nation, the Tuscarora, joined the Iroquois.
The Iroquois Constitution is believed to date back to the late 12th century (c. 1190). It was conceived by Dekanawidah, known as the Great Peacemaker, and his spokesman Hiawatha. Hiawatha is credited in Native American tradition as the founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. At a council meeting, Hiawatha presented the Great Law of Peace, uniting the five nations into a League of Nations, or the Iroquois Confederacy. The laws were first recorded and transmitted using wampum, shell-bead belts that encoded messages in a sequence of pictograms.
Each nation or tribe plays a delineated role in the conduct of government, with each nation maintaining its own leadership. However, common causes and decisions were decided by a Grand Council of Chiefs, with a focus on peace and consensus rather than fighting. The sixth nation, the Tuscarora, was added to the confederacy in 1722, and the constitution was translated into English and other languages in the 19th century.
The Iroquois Constitution and the Iroquois model of governance have been recognized as influencing the development of democratic institutions worldwide. In the United States, the influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the American Constitution and Bill of Rights has been debated. While some scholars argue that the Iroquois Constitution influenced the founding fathers, others, like Haudenosaunee historian Elisabeth J. Tooker, point to significant differences between the two forms of government and question the extent of any influence. Nevertheless, the Iroquois Constitution and the Great Law of Peace continue to be studied and recognized for their impact on democratic principles and the spread of democracy across the world.
France's Unique Constitution: What Sets It Apart?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Six nations are represented in the Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Six Nations or the Haudenosaunee ("People of the Longhouse").
The six nations that make up the Iroquois Confederacy are the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora peoples.
The exact date of the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy is not known, but it is believed to date back to between the late 12th century (c. 1190) and the 16th century (between 1570 and 1600).
The governing body of the Iroquois Confederacy is the Grand Council of 50 peace chiefs, or sachems (hodiyahnehsonh).
The number 50 represents the number of peace chiefs or sachems from each of the six nations, with the Onondaga nation supplying 14 and the Seneca nation supplying eight.
