Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was a group effort, but the final document can be credited to one Founding Father. The Iroquois Confederacy, a unification of several tribes, is thought to have influenced the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy was the most democratic form of government that any of the Constitutional Convention members had personally encountered. The chiefs of the six nations were hereditary rulers, something the framers wanted to avoid, given their grievances with Britain's King George III. The Iroquois Confederacy's democratic principles and federalist principles are thought to have influenced the US Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The US Constitution was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy | 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 constitution |
| The Iroquois Confederacy was a democratic form of government | The Iroquois Confederacy was the most democratic form of government that any of the convention members had personally encountered |
| The constitutional framers admired their federalist principles | The constitutional framers cited the Iroquois and other Native governments as examples of federalism |
| The Iroquois Confederacy was a stacked-government model | The chiefs of the six nations were hereditary rulers, something the framers wanted to avoid |
| The Founding Fathers had deep familiarity with Native nations | The Founding Fathers negotiated treaties or engaged in diplomatic relations with Native nations |
| The Founding Fathers studied Native systems of government | Benjamin Franklin studied their systems of governance and Thomas Jefferson expressed admiration for them |
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)
What You'll Learn
- The Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the US Constitution was formally acknowledged by Congress in 1988
- Iroquois principles of federalism and democratic governance impressed the Founding Fathers
- Iroquois practices of self-governance and individual freedom inspired the Founding Fathers
- The Founding Fathers negotiated treaties and engaged in diplomacy with Native American nations
- The Iroquois Confederacy's Great Law of Peace influenced the Albany Plan of Union by Benjamin Franklin
The Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the US Constitution was formally acknowledged by Congress in 1988
The United States Constitution was signed in 1787, marking the birth of a new democratic nation. However, the ideas and principles that inspired the document were drawn from a variety of sources, including ancient Athens, the European Enlightenment, and the tribal political entities of Native Americans.
The Iroquois Confederacy, in particular, is believed to have had a significant influence on the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy was a union of six Native American nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, and later, the Tuscarora. This confederacy had a sophisticated system of governance, known as the Great Law of Peace, which predated the US Constitution by centuries.
In 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the US Constitution. The resolution stated that "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." This recognition was the result of efforts by individuals like Oren Lyons, a Faithkeeper for the Iroquois Confederacy, and Daniel Inouye, the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs, who helped raise public awareness of the Iroquois Confederacy's impact on the US Constitution.
The Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the US Constitution can be seen in several ways. Firstly, the idea of separating military and civil leadership, as well as protecting certain personal freedoms, was a concept practiced by the Iroquois and other Native American nations. Secondly, the Iroquois Confederacy operated as a stacked-government model, with decision-making authority resting at the village level for issues like marriage and divorce, while the confederacy as a whole focused on unification through mutual defense and the conduct of foreign affairs. This concept of federalism, or the division of power between a central authority and regional authorities, was an important principle in the US Constitution.
Additionally, John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, suggested that those drafting the Constitution should study the governments of "the ancient Germans and modern Indians," specifically citing the Mohawks as an example of a group that enjoyed "complete individual independence" while still bringing major decisions to a national assembly. Benjamin Franklin, another influential figure, was also impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote the Albany Plan of Union, which advocated for better defense and security for the colonies.
In conclusion, while the US Constitution was shaped by a variety of intellectual sources, the Iroquois Confederacy's influence was significant and formally acknowledged by Congress in 1988. This recognition highlights the important contributions of Native American nations to the foundations of American democracy and governance.
The Constitution: Framing Government's Purpose and Role
You may want to see also
Iroquois principles of federalism and democratic governance impressed the Founding Fathers
The Iroquois Confederacy, which dates back several centuries, was founded by the Great Peacemaker by uniting five nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee. The Iroquois Confederacy was a comprehensive aboriginal constitution, with the Great Law of Peace as its guiding framework.
The Founding Fathers, who signed the US Constitution, were familiar with Native nations, having negotiated treaties and engaged in diplomatic relations with them. They admired the federalist principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, which was, at the time, the most democratic form of government that any of the convention members had personally encountered. The Iroquois Confederacy's unification through mutual defence and its handling of foreign affairs particularly impressed the Founding Fathers.
The separation of military and civil leadership and the protection of certain personal freedoms were also principles of the Iroquois Confederacy that influenced the Founding Fathers. The Iroquois Confederacy's democratic principles were acknowledged in a 1988 resolution passed by Congress, which formally recognised the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the US Constitution.
The Founding Fathers were impressed by the Iroquois Confederacy's system of governance, which included the division of power among the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The Mohawks, in particular, were noted for their "complete individual independence," while tribal leaders brought major decisions, such as declarations of war, to a national assembly.
The influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the US Constitution is a testament to the impact of Native American governments on the founding principles of the United States. While the Iroquois Confederacy was not an exact model for the US Constitution, it played a significant role in shaping the democratic principles and federalist ideals that would be incorporated into the founding document of the United States.
The Constitution's Building Blocks: Understanding Its Composition
You may want to see also
Iroquois practices of self-governance and individual freedom inspired the Founding Fathers
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, is a sophisticated and thriving society of well over 5,000 people. The Iroquois Confederacy dates back several centuries, to when the Great Peacemaker founded it by uniting five nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee. The Iroquois Confederacy is the oldest living participatory democracy on Earth, with a separation of powers and a Bill of Rights for the people, based on the consent of the governed.
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution were influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy's practices of self-governance and individual freedom. The Iroquois had a federalist political system with six nations in a league, each with its own independent power and freedom. The Iroquois had a strong sense of liberty and banned all servitude from their territories. They also had a matrilineal kinship system, which gave women considerable economic and political power. The Iroquois Confederacy's government utilized concepts of checks and balances, freedom of speech and religion, referendum, and veto. These practices inspired the Founding Fathers' ideas about democracy and individual freedom.
The Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, had friendly interactions with the Iroquois and other Native Americans. They were impressed by the Iroquois Confederacy's unity and reverence for their creator God. Franklin, for example, was influenced by the Iroquois' Great Law of Peace and wrote the Albany Plan of Union, which advocated for the colonies to improve their security and better defend themselves from foreign powers. The Iroquois' democratic principles, such as collective decision-making and mutual defense, also influenced early American political structures.
In 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution. The resolution stated that the confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy's political system and democratic principles. This resolution reaffirmed the legitimacy and sovereignty of Native nations and their governments.
The Press Clause: A Constitutional Right?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Founding Fathers negotiated treaties and engaged in diplomacy with Native American nations
The Founding Fathers who signed the US Constitution had familiarity with Native American nations, with some having negotiated treaties or engaged in diplomacy with them. For instance, Benjamin Franklin was closely involved in negotiating and printing treaties with Native nations, including the Iroquois Confederacy, and studied their systems of governance. At the Albany Congress in 1754, Franklin was impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote the Albany Plan of Union, advocating for the colonies to improve security and better defend themselves from foreign powers.
John Adams, in his three-volume handbook for the Constitutional Convention, surveyed different types of governments and ideas about government, including descriptions of Native American governments. He suggested that those drafting the Constitution study the governments of "the ancient Germans and modern Indians", which he believed divided power among the three branches of executive, judicial, and legislative governance.
Thomas Jefferson also studied Native systems of government, expressing admiration for them, despite incorrectly characterizing them as having "no law". In a letter written after the completion of the first draft of the Constitution, he wrote that "the only condition on earth to be compared with ours is that of the Indians, where they still have less law than we. The Europeans are governments of kites over pidgeons".
In 1987, Oren Lyons, a Faithkeeper for the Iroquois Confederacy, and historian Donald A. Grinde, Jr. testified before the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs, bringing public awareness to the connection between the US Constitution and the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy. This led to a 1988 resolution passed by Congress that formally acknowledged the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the US Constitution. The resolution stated that "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". It also reaffirmed the "government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States established in the Constitution", recognizing the legitimacy and sovereignty of Native nations and their governments.
Marriage and the Constitution: Exploring the Legal Bond
You may want to see also
The Iroquois Confederacy's Great Law of Peace influenced the Albany Plan of Union by Benjamin Franklin
The United States Constitution was a collaborative effort by some of the country's greatest minds. However, the bulk of the document can be credited to Thomas Jefferson. The Iroquois Confederacy, which dates back several centuries, is believed to have influenced the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy was a league of five to six nations, including the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, and, since 1722, the Tuscarora nation.
The Iroquois Confederacy's Great Law of Peace, an oral document that is still recited annually, is believed to have influenced Benjamin Franklin's Albany Plan of Union. In 1744, the Onondaga leader Canassatego gave a speech urging the 13 colonies to unite, as the Iroquois had at the signing of the Treaty of Lancaster. This inspired Benjamin Franklin to print Canassatego's speech. In a letter written in 1751, Franklin cited the Iroquois Confederacy as an example of a successful political union, stating:
> "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 1754, Benjamin Franklin presented his Albany Plan of Union at the Albany Congress, which was attended by representatives of the Iroquois and the seven colonies. Franklin referenced the Iroquois model in his proposal, which advocated for the colonies to unite and better defend themselves from foreign powers. While the Albany Plan of Union never came to fruition, it was a significant step toward the formation of the United States of America.
Exclusionary Rule: A Constitutional Crisis?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution. The resolution also reaffirmed the legitimacy and sovereignty of Native American nations and their governments.
The Iroquois Confederacy was a democratic political system that influenced the thinking of the constitutional framers. The framers of the Constitution were impressed by the federalist principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, which allowed each tribe to manage local issues like marriage and divorce while unifying the tribes through mutual defense and the handling of foreign affairs.
There is evidence that the framers of the Constitution studied and were influenced by Native American governments, including the Iroquois Confederacy. For example, descriptions of Native American governments appear in the three-volume handbook John Adams wrote for the Constitutional Convention. Benjamin Franklin was also closely involved in negotiating and printing treaties with Native American nations, and he studied their systems of governance.
