Malcolm Rivera
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, is a democratic political system that has been recognized as influencing the structure and principles of the United States Constitution. Historians and Congress have acknowledged the impact of the Iroquois Confederacy on the founding fathers, with similarities drawn between the confederation of 13 colonies and the Iroquois' union of six nations. The Iroquois' Great Law of Peace, which emphasizes peace and consensus, also inspired Benjamin Franklin, who advocated for stronger colonies through unity and cooperation. While the Iroquois Confederacy was not an exact model for the U.S. Constitution, it provided a real-life example of the political concepts that shaped the U.S. government's structure and democratic principles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Influence on the U.S. Constitution | The Iroquois Confederacy influenced the U.S. Constitution, according to historians and a 1988 Congressional resolution. However, some dispute this, arguing that it did not significantly impact the Constitution. |
| Federalist Principles | The constitutional framers admired the Iroquois Confederacy's federalist principles, despite viewing them as inferior. |
| Union and Unity | Benjamin Franklin and others noted similarities between the Iroquois Confederacy's union and the need for unity among the American colonies. |
| Democratic Principles | The Iroquois Confederacy's democratic principles are said to have influenced those incorporated into the U.S. Constitution. |
| Real-Life Example | The Iroquois Confederacy provided a real-life example of political concepts that the framers of the U.S. Constitution were interested in adopting. |
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What You'll Learn
The Iroquois Confederation and its influence on the American Constitution
The Iroquois Confederation, also known as the Iroquois League or the Haudenosaunee, is a political system developed by the unification of six Native American nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora. This confederation, which dates back several centuries, has been recognised by historians as a significant influence on the writings of the U.S. Constitution.
The Iroquois Confederation is governed by the Great Law of Peace (or Kaianere'kó:wa), an oral constitution represented by symbols on wampum belts. Each nation or tribe plays a delineated role in the conduct of government, with decisions made by a consensus of male chiefs who gained their positions through a combination of blood descent and selection by female relatives.
The influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the American Constitution has been a subject of debate among scholars. Some argue that the democratic ideals of the Great Law of Peace provided significant inspiration to Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and other framers of the U.S. Constitution. Franklin, in particular, was impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote the Albany Plan of Union, advocating for the colonies to unite and defend themselves from foreign powers. The Iroquois' federalist principles and notions of individual liberty and the separation of powers may have also influenced the development of colonial society and culture, including the Suffragette movement.
However, critics of the Iroquois-influence theory point out key differences between the two forms of government. For example, the Great Law treats the tribes unequally, while the Constitution treats states equally. Additionally, the Great Law includes specific verbal incantations to be recited at particular times, which are not present in the Constitution. Furthermore, while both documents forbid multiple office holdings, this idea was already part of the "Radical Whig" political agenda, to which the American Founders subscribed.
In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed Concurrent Resolution 331, formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the development of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. This resolution recognised the Iroquois' contribution to the democratic principles incorporated into the Constitution and the continuing government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States.
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The Great Law of Peace
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, was founded when the Great Peacemaker united five nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. Together, these six nations formed a multi-state government while maintaining their own individual governance. Hiawatha is credited in Native American tradition as the founder of the Iroquois Confederacy and served as the Great Peacemaker's spokesman.
The influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the American Constitution and Bill of Rights is a subject of debate among scholars. Some argue that the democratic ideals of the Iroquois Confederation provided significant inspiration to Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and other framers of the U.S. Constitution. The federal structure, notions of individual liberty, and the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution are said to be influenced by the Iroquois example. Additionally, Native American symbols and imagery, such as the American bald eagle and a bundle of arrows, were adopted by the nascent United States.
On the other hand, critics argue that there are significant differences between the two forms of government. For example, decisions in the Iroquois Confederacy were made by a consensus of male chiefs who gained their positions through a combination of blood descent and selection by female relatives. Representation was based on the number of clans in the group rather than the size or population of the clans. Additionally, some scholars dispute the notion that the Iroquois Confederacy served as a direct model for the U.S. Constitution, stating that the similarities can be explained by other influences, such as the Radical Whig political agenda.
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Benjamin Franklin's admiration for the Iroquois
Franklin's respect for the Iroquois is evident in a 1751 letter describing the need for the 13 colonies to form a "voluntary Union" similar to that of the Iroquois Confederacy:
> "It would be a very strange Thing, if six Nations of ignorant Savages should be capable of forming a Scheme for such an Union, and be able to execute it in such a Manner, as that it has subsisted Ages, and appears indissoluble; and yet that a like Union should be impracticable for ten or a Dozen English Colonies, to whom it is more necessary, and must be more advantageous; and who cannot be supposed to want an equal Understanding of their Interests."
In 1744, Franklin published an account of a meeting between delegates of the Six Nations of the Iroquois and envoys from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. During the discussions, the Iroquois leader Canassatego advocated for the federal union of the American colonies, stressing the strength and power that came from their union.
In 1754, Franklin attended the Albany Congress, where he was impressed by the Great Law of Peace of the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, and wrote what became known as the Albany Plan of Union. The plan advocated for the colonies to improve security and better defend themselves from foreign powers. Franklin carried the Iroquois concept of unity to the meeting, presenting a plan of union patterned after the Iroquois Confederation. Several Iroquois leaders attended the Congress, including an aging Mohawk sachem called Hendrick, who provided information on the structure of the Iroquois government.
Franklin's admiration for the Iroquois continued throughout his life. In an essay four decades later, he wrote:
> "Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the Perfection of Civility; they think the same of theirs."
Franklin's actions and writings provide evidence of his respect for the Iroquois and their political unity, federalism, and balance of power, which directly influenced the United States' system of government.
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The Albany Conference of 1754
The Albany Congress, also known as the Albany Conference or the Albany Convention, took place from June 19 to July 10, 1754. Representatives from seven British North American colonies—Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island—met in Albany, New York, to discuss relations with Native American tribes and plan defensive measures against the French and Indian threat from Canada. This threat marked the opening stage of the French and Indian War, the North American front of the Seven Years' War between Great Britain and France. The delegates in attendance did not have the goal of creating an American nation but were instead focused on pursuing a treaty with the Mohawks and other major Iroquois tribes.
The Congress is particularly notable for the adoption of Benjamin Franklin's Albany Plan of Union, which called for a union of 11 colonies under a central executive and a council of delegates. Each colonial assembly would send 2 to 7 representatives to a "grand council", which would have legislative powers. The British Crown would appoint a president to lead the union, which would have jurisdiction over Indian affairs. The plan was heavily debated and modified before being passed unanimously by the delegates. However, it was ultimately rejected by the colonies' legislatures and the Colonial Office, as it would have removed some of their existing powers.
The Albany Plan of Union was the first proposal to conceive of the British North American colonies as a collective whole united under one government. Although it was never implemented, the plan served as a model for future attempts at union and influenced the formation of the United States of America in 1776. Many elements of the plan became the basis for the American government established by the Articles of Confederation of 1777 and the Constitution of 1787.
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The Iroquois' federalist principles
The Iroquois federalist principles are embodied in the Great Law of Peace (or Kaianere'kó:wa in Mohawk), the Iroquois Confederacy's oral constitution. The law was represented by symbols on wampum belts, which served as mnemonic devices for storytellers. The Great Law of Peace is divided into 117 articles, with each united Iroquois nation symbolised by an eastern white pine tree, known as the Tree of Peace.
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, dates back several centuries, when the Great Peacemaker founded it by uniting five nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois, forming a multi-state government while maintaining their own individual governance.
The Iroquois federalist principles influenced the writings of the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the minds of the framers of the Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and others. Franklin, for instance, was impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote what became known as the Albany Plan of Union, advocating for the colonies to improve security and better defend themselves from foreign powers. The Iroquois' federal structure, democratic ideals, and notions of individual liberty and the separation of powers also influenced the U.S. Constitution.
However, it is important to note that the influence of Iroquois federalist principles on the U.S. Constitution is disputed by some scholars, who point to significant differences between the two forms of government. The Iroquois Confederacy, for instance, made decisions by consensus of male chiefs who gained their positions through a combination of blood descent and selection by female relatives, while representation was based on the number of clans rather than clan size or population.
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Frequently asked questions
The Iroquois Constitution is a set of governance principles that were developed by the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations or the Haudenosaunee, which means "people of the longhouse". The Confederacy originally consisted of five nations: the Mohawks, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, the Oneida, and the Seneca. In around 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined them.
The Iroquois Constitution provided a real-life example of some of the political concepts that the framers of the US Constitution were interested in adopting. The confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles incorporated into the US Constitution. The Iroquois Constitution's focus on peace, equity, and justice also aligned with the foundational precepts for unifying the colonies.
One principle in the Iroquois Constitution that influenced the US Constitution is the "seventh-generation principle", which dictates that decisions made today should lead to sustainability for seven generations into the future. This concept considers and aspires to protect against climate change.
The framers of the US Constitution recognized the Iroquois Constitution as early as 1744 when Benjamin Franklin was inspired by a speech given by the Onondaga leader Canassatego, urging the 13 colonies to unite. In 1754, Franklin was also impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote the Albany Plan of Union, advocating for the colonies to improve their security and defence against foreign powers. 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". In 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the US Constitution.
