Malcolm Rivera
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, is a group of Native Americans that influenced the United States Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy is a powerful group of tribal nations in upstate New York that was well-known to the Founding Fathers, some of whom had negotiated treaties with them. The Iroquois Confederacy's governing principle, the Great Law of Peace, impressed Benjamin Franklin, who wrote the Albany Plan of Union, advocating for the colonies to improve security and defend themselves from foreign powers. The influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution was formally acknowledged by Congress in a 1988 resolution, recognising the continuing government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Iroquois Confederacy, Haudenosaunee Confederacy |
| Location | Upstate New York |
| Government | Confederacy of tribal nations |
| Leadership | Hereditary rulers |
| Governance | Democratic policies for referendums, vetoes, and recalls |
| Gender Equality | Women had a large role in government |
| Influence on US Constitution | Separation of military and civil leadership, freedom of religion, federalism |
| Recognition | US Congress passed a resolution in 1988 acknowledging the Iroquois Confederacy's influence on the US Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Iroquois Confederacy
The confederacy has persisted into the 21st century, and the Iroquois continue to live under their own constitution and government.
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The influence of Benjamin Franklin
The Iroquois Confederacy, a powerful group of Native American nations in upstate New York, is often credited with influencing the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy's system of governance was admired and studied by several of the Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin was closely involved in negotiating and printing treaties with Native nations, including the Iroquois Confederacy, and he studied their systems of governance. He admired the Iroquois system for its consensus-based approach and lack of forceful control. In 1751, Franklin wrote:
> It would be a very strange Thing, if six Nations of ignorant Savages [sic] should be capable of forming a Scheme for such a Union, and be able to execute it in such a Manner as that it has subsisted Ages, and appears indissoluble; and yet a like Union should be impractical for ten or a Dozen English Colonies.
Franklin also recognised the superiority of Indian foods, particularly corn, which he described as "one of the most agreeable and wholesome grains in the world". Additionally, he argued for the adoption of Indian modes of warfare, which the British had successfully used during the French and Indian War.
Franklin was influenced by European thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, and John Locke, who wrote about the Indians' "state of perfect freedom" and argued that power should derive from the people, not a monarch. However, it was his direct observations of the Iroquois Confederacy's political practices that convinced him of the functionality of a democracy with power vested in the people.
In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin played a significant role in shaping the US Constitution by drawing on his knowledge of and interactions with Native American nations, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy. His recognition of the merits of their systems of governance, food, and warfare demonstrates his respect for Native American cultures and his willingness to incorporate their influences into the founding principles of the United States.
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The Great Law of Peace
The exact date of the events is not known, but it is thought to date back to the late 12th century (c. 1190). The original five member nations ratified this constitution near modern-day Victor, New York, with the sixth nation, the Tuscarora, being added in 1722.
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The Haudenosaunee Confederacy
The Haudenosaunee symbol of the long house, provided by the Peacemaker, is recognized in traditional geographic locations. Each nation took on a role within the metaphorical long house, with the Onondaga being the Keepers of the Fire, and the Mohawk, Seneca, and Onondaga acting as the Elder Brothers of the confederacy. The Cayuga and Oneida were the Younger Brothers within the Grand Council, which had its main meeting place on Onondaga territory.
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The US Constitution's democratic principles
The US Constitution, drafted in 1787, is the foundation of the Federal Government and is often called the supreme law of the land. It is a "living" document, meaning it can be amended, although in over 200 years there have only been 27 amendments. The Constitution is divided into three parts: the Preamble, the seven Articles, and the Amendments.
The Preamble describes the purpose of the document, which is to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity". The seven Articles establish how the Government is structured and how the Constitution can be changed. They also describe the relationship between the states and the Federal Government, establish the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and define the amendment and ratification processes.
The US Constitution was influenced by a variety of sources, including ancient Athens, the European Enlightenment, and Native American governments. The Founding Fathers established three main principles on which the Government is based: federalism, separation of powers, and inherent rights.
Federalism is reflected in the division of the federal government into three branches: the Legislative (Congress), Executive (Office of the President), and Judicial (Federal Court System). This system of checks and balances prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful. The Constitution also mandates that all states uphold a "republican form" of government, although the three-branch structure is not required.
The separation of powers is also evident in the Native American governments that influenced the Constitution, such as the Iroquois Confederacy. The Iroquois Confederacy was a powerful group of tribal nations in upstate New York that separated military and civil leadership and guarded certain personal freedoms, including freedom of religion. They also included democratic policies for referendums, vetoes, and recalls, and gave women a large role in government.
The inherent rights principle is reflected in the 14th Amendment, which states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States have equal protection and due process under the law. However, interpretations of this amendment immediately excluded most American Indians from citizenship, and it was not until 1924 that the Indian Citizenship Act conferred citizenship on all American Indians.
In conclusion, the US Constitution's democratic principles include federalism, separation of powers, and inherent rights. These principles were influenced by a variety of sources, including Native American governments, and have been amended over time to better reflect the values of liberty and justice for all.
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Frequently asked questions
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, is acknowledged to have influenced the US Constitution. The confederacy consisted of the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, Onondaga, and later, the Tuscarora nations.
The Iroquois Confederacy was a powerful group of Native American nations in upstate New York. They had a democratic government with certain personal freedoms, including freedom of religion. They separated military and civil leadership and gave women a large role in government.
The Founding Fathers were familiar with the Iroquois Confederacy and other Native American governments through personal experience and diplomatic relations. Benjamin Franklin, for example, was closely involved in negotiating and printing treaties with the Iroquois. He was also impressed by the Great Law of Peace, which inspired his Albany Plan of Union.
In 1988, Congress passed a resolution formally acknowledging the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the US Constitution. The resolution also reaffirmed the "continuing government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States established in the Constitution."
