Eleanor Finch
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, is an ancient political system that has had a significant influence on the U.S. Constitution and the spread of democratic institutions worldwide. The Iroquois Confederacy, formed by the unification of several Native American nations, established an egalitarian society governed by a council that balanced power between the tribes. The Iroquois Constitution outlined rules for governance, legislative processes, and the rights and duties of tribal leaders, known as lords, who were chosen through a unique system involving female lineage. The Iroquois' advanced political concepts, such as federalism and mutual defense, inspired the Founding Fathers of the United States as they sought to create a democratic government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Egalitarian society | Equality |
| Rule by a council | Democracy |
| Multi-state government | Federalism |
| Unification through mutual defense | Peace |
| Conducted foreign affairs | Diplomacy |
| Maintained individual governance | Autonomy |
| Established rights, duties, and qualifications for council members | Sovereignty |
| Established a process to remove wayward council members | Accountability |
| Council members were not supposed to gossip or be dishonest | Honesty |
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What You'll Learn
The Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the US Constitution
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, dates back several centuries. It was founded when the Great Peacemaker united five nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined them.
In 1754, leaders of the Confederacy attended the Albany Congress, where Benjamin Franklin was impressed by the Great Law of Peace, a doctrine of 117 codicils where individual tribes handled their own affairs but came together to solve issues of common importance. Franklin wrote what became known as the Albany Plan of Union, advocating for the colonies to improve security and better defend themselves from foreign powers.
In 1787, when the Founders met to create the U.S. Constitution, there were no contemporary democracies in Europe from which they could draw inspiration. The only forms of government they had encountered were those of the Native American tribes, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy, which had already formed a multi-state government that ensured individual governance and freedoms. The Founders were impressed by how the Iroquois legislated their affairs and shortly thereafter, they drafted the U.S. Constitution, echoing the Great Law of Peace.
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 political system developed by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles incorporated into the Constitution.
However, some sources dispute the extent of the Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the U.S. Constitution. They argue that there is a lack of direct evidence in the form of references to the Iroquois political structure in the Constitutional Convention records or congressional journals.
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The Great Peacemaker and the unification of the Five Nations
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, meaning "The People of the Longhouse", is a political and cultural union of six Native American tribes. The Iroquois Confederacy dates back several centuries, to when the Great Peacemaker founded it by uniting five nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca.
The Peacemaker, sometimes referred to as Deganawida or Tekanawí:ta in Mohawk, was a prophet who counselled peace among the warring tribes. According to legend, his first ally was Jigonhsasee, who became known as the Mother of Nations. She lent her home for the meeting of the leaders of the rival tribal nations. The Peacemaker's follower Hiawatha, an Onondaga renowned for his oratory, helped him achieve his vision of bringing the tribes together in peace.
The Peacemaker knew that the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca Nations had been warring against each other, and he sought out the most evil leaders of the people of the five nations. He met a woman named Jikonhsaseh, who provided shelter and food and promoted the continuation of the fighting. The Peacemaker told Jikonhsaseh about the message of peace and that her actions were promoting war and saddening the Creator. After listening to the Peacemaker’s message, she agreed to follow the message of peace and became the first Clan Mother. The Clan Mother has the duty of watching over the members of her clan and counselling them in a peaceful way, as well as selecting the next leader of their clan to keep the great peace continuing.
The Peacemaker used symbols to help the people understand his message of peace. He took one arrow and broke it, then took five arrows, representing the Five Nations, and tied them together into a bundle that was difficult, if not impossible, to break. This symbolized that there is strength in unity. He also uprooted a white pine tree, which has five bundles of needles, to remind the Haudenosaunee of the five nations coming together. The people were asked to throw their weapons of war into the pit where the tree had been, and an underground river carried the weapons away, symbolizing the hope that there would be no war in the future.
The Peacemaker established a council of clan and village chiefs to govern the confederacy, with power shared between the sexes. Men held the positions of hereditary chiefs through their mother's line, while clan mothers ruled on the fitness of chiefs and could depose any that they opposed. Most decisions in the council were made by consensus, with each representative having an equal voice.
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The legislative process of the Iroquois Constitution
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, refers to the Mohawks, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, and the later addition of the Tuscarora tribe. The Confederacy was founded by the Great Peacemaker, who united these nations under a multi-state government while allowing each nation to maintain its own individual governance. This stacked-government model, known as the Iroquois Constitution, was governed by the Great Law of Peace, which established an egalitarian society ruled by a legislative council.
The Mohawks were considered the leaders of the Iroquois, and no council took place without them. The legislative body established by the Iroquois Constitution balanced power between the different nations. The Great Law of Peace outlined the rights, duties, and qualifications for the male lords who represented their tribes in the council. These lords were expected to uphold high moral standards and avoid gossip or dishonesty.
The right to attend council meetings was inherited through the female line, giving mothers significant influence over their sons, who served as representatives. If a lord could not attend a meeting, the woman leader of his family would select an alternative representative. The constitution also established a process for removing wayward lords and selecting new ones, with the council of war chiefs from the various nations playing an advisory role in this process.
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The Iroquois Confederacy's democratic principles
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, is a union of several tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and the later addition, the Tuscarora. The Confederacy was founded by the Great Peacemaker, and in their language, the Iroquois refer to themselves as the Haudenosaunee, meaning "Those of the Long House", in reference to their bark-covered longhouses that accommodated multiple families.
The Iroquois Confederacy was governed by the Great Law of Peace, which established an egalitarian society ruled by a council. Each tribe sent its leaders to legislative sessions, where proposals, cases, or questions were deliberated and voted on. The Mohawks and Senecas would first deliberate a proposal, and if approved, it would go to the Oneidas and Cayugas, then to the Onondagas, who would find a balance between the two bodies. If the Onondagas disagreed with the previous four tribes, the proposal could be reasserted if there was a unanimous decision, in which case the Onondagas would have to agree. The Mohawks were considered the leaders of the Iroquois, as they were the first to follow the Great Prophet.
The Iroquois constitution established a legislative body that balanced power between the nations. The Great Law of Peace outlined the rights, duties, and qualifications for the male lords of the tribes who would attend the council. These lords were chosen through an inherited right from the female line, giving mothers significant influence over their sons, who were the representatives. The constitution also established a process to remove or add new lords, with the council of the various war chiefs of the nations playing an advisory role and making the final decision.
The democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy influenced the writing of the U.S. Constitution. In 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging this influence, which had previously been denied due to the anxiety of being influenced by a foreign power. The Iroquois model of government provided a real-life example of political concepts that the framers of the U.S. Constitution wanted to adopt, such as federalism and unification through mutual defence.
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The Iroquois' independence and self-governance today
The Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee, meaning "people of the longhouse", continue to live under their own constitution and government. The Iroquois Confederacy is a multi-state government consisting of six nations: the Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Each tribe sends its leaders to legislative sessions, where proposals, cases, or questions are deliberated and voted on. The legislative body balances power between the nations, with the Mohawks taking the lead. The Iroquois constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, establishes the rights, duties, and qualifications for the tribal lords who attend these council meetings.
The Iroquois Confederacy has had a significant influence on the U.S. Constitution and democratic principles. In 1754, Benjamin Franklin 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. In 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including John Adams, studied the Iroquois Confederacy as an example of a democratic government. The confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was influenced by the political system of the Iroquois Confederacy.
The Iroquois Confederacy's legislative process and federalism inspired the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Each tribe in the Confederacy maintained its own governance while uniting under a central council. The tribes also had control over local issues, such as marriage and divorce, while the central council handled foreign affairs and mutual defence. The constitutional framers sought to borrow these aspects of Iroquois government to assert the sovereignty of the people over vast geographic areas.
The Iroquois' independence and self-governance have been recognised by the United States government. In 1988, 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. This resolution acknowledged the legitimacy and sovereignty of Native nations and their governments.
Today, the Iroquois continue to govern themselves through their own constitution and legislative processes, maintaining their independence and self-governance within the United States. The Iroquois Confederacy serves as a powerful example of a thriving, democratic society and has inspired the spread of democratic institutions worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, is a set of rules that established an egalitarian Iroquois society ruled by a council.
The Iroquois Constitution established a legislative body that balanced power between several nations. Each tribe sent its leaders to legislative sessions, where proposals were deliberated and voted on. The Mohawks were considered the leaders of the Iroquois. The constitution also outlined the rights and duties of the male lords of the tribes, who were expected to act with integrity and could be removed by a council of war chiefs.
The Iroquois Constitution, through the political system of the Iroquois Confederacy, influenced the democratic principles incorporated into the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy provided a real-life example of certain political concepts that the framers of the US Constitution wanted to adopt, such as federalism and unification through mutual defense.
