Malcolm Rivera
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, is a legislative confederacy that brought together several independent Native American nations under one political body. The constitution, which dates back to around 1450, was passed down orally through the generations and outlines the rights, duties, and qualifications for the male lords of the tribes. It also establishes an egalitarian society ruled by a council, with each tribe sending its leaders to legislative sessions to deliberate on proposals, cases, or questions. The Iroquois Constitution has been taught to students to help them understand its influence on the founding principles of the United States and its government, including the US Constitution. The curriculum includes reading materials, discussions, and critical analysis of primary and secondary sources, with a focus on drawing inferences and making connections to understand its impact on democracy, natural rights, and limited government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To organise Iroquois society and provide rules for its government |
| Date | Likely dates back to 1450 |
| Format | Passed through the generations by spoken word |
| Content | A narrative telling the origins of the Iroquois people and the story of the founders of the confederacy |
| Confederacy | A major union of Native American tribes present in lands that are today the modern-day state of New York and beyond |
| Tribes | Initially an alliance between five tribes: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Later, the Tuscarora tribe joined |
| Leadership | Leaders of each tribe would send representatives to a legislative session |
| Legislative Process | Proposals, cases, or questions would be deliberated by the Mohawk and Seneca; if approved, it would go to the Oneida and Cayuga, then to the Onondaga, who would find a balance |
| Rights and Duties | Established the rights, duties, and qualifications for the (male) lords the tribes would send to the council |
| Influence on US Constitution | The Iroquois Constitution may have influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States and their ideas for shaping the new democracy |
| Educational Use | Used in educational contexts to teach about US government, Native American history, and critical thinking skills |
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What You'll Learn
The Iroquois Constitution's influence on the US Constitution
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, is a legislative text that outlines the rules and principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, a union of Native American tribes in what is now the state of New York and beyond. The Iroquois Constitution is believed to have influenced the Founding Fathers and the formation of the United States Constitution.
The Iroquois Confederacy, established around 1450, consisted of an alliance between five tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Later, the Tuscarora tribe joined, bringing the total number of tribes to six. The Confederacy was governed by the Great Law of Peace, which established an egalitarian society ruled by a council. This council consisted of representatives from each tribe, who would deliberate on proposals, cases, or questions. The Mohawk and Seneca would discuss the matter first, followed by the Oneida and Cayuga, and then the Onondaga, who would make the final decision, taking into account the views of the other tribes.
The Iroquois Constitution established a legislative confederacy, bringing together independent nations into one political body governed by representatives. It outlined provisions for treason, succession, and the rights of both members and non-members. The Confederacy's structure and principles impressed the Founding Fathers, as it ensured individual governance and freedoms while also providing a mechanism for solving issues of common importance.
In 1988, Congress passed a resolution acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the US Constitution. This resolution stated that the confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy's political system and that many of the democratic principles of the Iroquois were incorporated into the US Constitution.
However, some sources dispute the extent of the Iroquois Constitution's influence on the US Constitution. While it is recognized that the Iroquois Confederation and the Great Law of Peace are significant achievements worthy of study, there is debate over whether they directly shaped the formation of the American Union or the Constitution. For example, while Benjamin Franklin referenced the Iroquois Confederation in his "Plan of Union" proposal, there is no evidence that he considered it a model for an American constitution.
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The Iroquois Confederacy's impact on US democracy
The Iroquois Confederacy, governed by a constitution called the Great Law of Peace, has been acknowledged as having influenced the formation of the United States government and its democratic principles. The confederacy was a union of Native American tribes in the lands of the modern-day state of New York and beyond, consisting of an alliance between six tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and later, the Tuscarora tribe.
The Iroquois Constitution established a legislative confederacy, outlining provisions for treason, succession, and rights of both members and non-members. It brought together independent nations into one political body governed by representatives, with each tribe sending its leaders to legislative sessions to deliberate proposals, cases, or questions. This legislative body balanced power between several nations, with the rights, duties, and qualifications of the male lords outlined in the Great Law of Peace.
The influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on US democracy is evident in several aspects. Firstly, it inspired the concept of uniting the colonies, with Ben Franklin drawing on the wisdom and democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy. Franklin invited representatives of the Iroquois Nations to help promote three core concepts of their constitution: peace, equity, and justice, as foundational precepts for unifying the colonies. Secondly, the Iroquois Confederacy's governance structure, with its focus on balancing power, influenced the US Constitution's separation of responsibilities in government and the process for removing leaders from power. Additionally, the Iroquois Confederacy's emphasis on sustainability and the redistribution of wealth has spread to other Native American models of governance, showcasing their commitment to protecting against climate change.
While the influence of European Enlightenment thinkers and classical antiquity on American political development is well-documented, the impact of Indigenous political structures, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy, has often been underrecognized. However, in 1988, the US Senate passed a resolution acknowledging the Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the US republic and the incorporation of its democratic principles into the Constitution. By elevating Indigenous voices and perspectives, we can better understand the multifaceted influences that shape our understanding of history and democracy.
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The Great Law of Peace
The purpose of the Great Law of Peace was to establish an egalitarian society ruled by a council and to provide rules for the Iroquois government. Each tribe sent its leaders to legislative sessions, where proposals, cases, or questions were deliberated and voted on. The Great Law of Peace established the rights, duties, and qualifications for the male lords who participated in the council. It also outlined provisions for treason, succession, and the rights of members and non-members.
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The Iroquois founding narrative
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Iroquois League, the Iroquois Nation, or the Six Nations, is believed to have been founded by the Great Peacemaker, Deganawidah, at an unknown date estimated between 1450 and 1660. The Confederacy brought together five distinct nations in the southern Great Lakes area into "The Great League of Peace". These nations were the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Later, the Tuscarora tribe joined, bringing the total number of nations to six.
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, was passed through the generations by spoken word and consists of a narrative telling the origins of the Iroquois people and the story of the founders of the Confederacy. According to legend, Deganawidah, the Great Peacemaker, travelled across the warring indigenous tribes to spread his message of peace and cooperation. One of his first converts was the warrior woman Jigonhsee, whose hearth had provided hospitality to warriors from rival tribes. Another early convert was Hiawatha, and these three are traditionally held to be the founders of the League.
The main purpose of the Iroquois Constitution was to organise Iroquois society and provide rules for its government. It established a legislative confederacy, balancing power between several nations. Each tribe would send its leaders to a legislative session, where proposals, cases, or questions would be deliberated and voted on. The Mohawk and Seneca would deliberate first; if they approved, the proposal would go on to the Oneida and Cayuga, then to the Onondaga, who would find a balance between the two bodies. If the other four tribes disagreed with the Onondaga, they could reassert their proposal if unanimous, and the Onondaga would have to agree. The Mohawks were considered the leaders of the Iroquois since they chose to follow the Great Prophet first, and no council occurred without them.
The Iroquois Confederacy has been cited as a model for the government of the United States of America as defined in the US Constitution. In 1744, Canasatego, leader of the Onondaga nation and spokesman for the Iroquois Confederation, advised British colonists:
> "We heartily recommend Union and a Good Agreement between you our Brethren. Our wise Forefathers established Union and Amity between the Five Nations; this has made us formidable, this has given us great weight and Authority with our Neighbouring Nations. We are a Powerfull confederacy, and by your observing the same Methods our wise Forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh Strength and Power."
Some scholars argue that the US Constitution and other founding documents were influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy, while others refute this theory, arguing that the framers of these documents based their ideas on European political theories.
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The legislative body established by the Iroquois Constitution
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, established a legislative body that balanced power between several nations. The Iroquois Confederacy was a union of Native American tribes that ruled over lands in the modern-day state of New York and beyond. It is believed to have been established in 1450 and initially consisted of an alliance between five tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. Later, the Tuscarora tribe joined, bringing the total number of tribes in the confederacy to six.
The Iroquois Constitution outlines the rights, duties, and qualifications for the male lords that each tribe would send to the legislative council. Each tribe would send its leaders to a legislative session, where proposals, cases, or questions would be deliberated and voted on. The Mohawk and Seneca would first deliberate on a proposal, and if it received approval, it would move on to the Oneida and Cayuga, and then to the Onondaga, who would have the final say if the other four tribes could not come to an agreement. 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 confederacy, bringing together independent nations into one political body governed by an organized group of representatives. It set out how sachems (rulers or chiefs) would be appointed and how they would lead their nations. It also outlined provisions for treason, succession, and the rights of both members and non-members. The Iroquois Confederacy provided a real-life example of political concepts that would later be adopted in the U.S. Constitution, such as federalism and democratic principles.
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Frequently asked questions
The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, is a legislative confederacy that organises Iroquois society and provides rules for its government. It establishes the rights, duties, and qualifications for the male lords the tribes would send to council.
The Iroquois Constitution was created to bring together independent nations into one political body governed by an organised group of representatives. It also outlines provisions for treason, succession, and rights of both members and non-members.
The Iroquois Constitution has influenced the United States Constitution by inspiring the Founding Fathers and their ideas for shaping the new democracy. The US Constitution includes similarities to the Iroquois Constitution, such as the structure of the government and the establishment of a confederacy governed by democratic principles.
