Iroquois Constitution: Who Owns The Land?

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, was a union of Native American tribes that occupied a significant portion of lands in what is now the modern-day state of New York and beyond. The Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, established an egalitarian society ruled by a council, with each nation maintaining its own leadership. The constitution also references the Great Creator, who established the different tribes and granted the Iroquois nation the right to land. While the influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the U.S. Constitution is debated, some historians argue that it played a significant role in shaping democratic institutions and inspiring the Founding Fathers.

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The Iroquois Confederacy

However, the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution is a subject of historical debate. Some scholars argue that there are significant differences between the two forms of government and that there is little reason to believe the Iroquois Confederacy had a meaningful influence on the American Constitution. Furthermore, Americans tended to distrust and slight the Iroquois Indians and other tribes, and there is little documentation suggesting that the Founding Fathers were familiar with the Iroquois system of government.

After the American Revolution, the Iroquois Confederacy dissolved, and the various tribes were forced from their homelands by the United States federal government. By the War of 1812, the Iroquois had lost control of considerable territory, and many migrated to Canada. Today, the Iroquois continue to live under their own constitution and government.

The Great Law of Peace

The influence of the Great Law of Peace on the U.S. Constitution has been a subject of historical debate. Some scholars argue that the federal structure of the U.S. Constitution was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were notions of individual liberty and the separation of powers. The Iroquois Confederacy's example sparked the spread of democratic institutions across the world. Benjamin Franklin, for instance, was impressed by the Great Law of Peace and wrote what is known as the Albany Plan of Union. On the other hand, some scholars argue that there is little resemblance between the two forms of government and that it is unclear how familiar the Founding Fathers were with the Iroquois system.

Influence on the US Constitution

The influence of the Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, on the US Constitution is a subject of historical debate. Some scholars argue that the US Constitution was influenced by the political system and democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy, while others refute this claim.

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, was a union of Native American tribes in the lands of the modern-day state of New York and beyond. It consisted of an alliance between five tribes: the Mohawk, the Oneida, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, and the Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora nation joined the Iroquois, expanding the confederacy to six nations.

The Iroquois Constitution established a legislative confederacy and peace between the Native American tribes of northern New York. It united the five nations into a League of Nations, with each nation maintaining its own leadership but agreeing to decide on common causes in the Grand Council of Chiefs. The Iroquois Confederacy dates back several centuries, with some sources claiming it was adopted as early as the 12th century or as late as the 17th century.

The potential influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the US Constitution has been a subject of discussion, with some arguing that it provided a real-life example of political concepts that the framers of the US Constitution wanted to adopt. For instance, both constitutions established a legislative process consisting of two bodies. Additionally, both constitutions proclaimed that they were part of a higher process. The Iroquois constitutional framers believed that their government reflected the God-given rights of men and the inherent morality of the Great Peace, while the US constitutional framers held similar beliefs about democracy and liberty.

The influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the US Constitution was recognised by the US Senate in 1987 and again in 1988, with a resolution acknowledging the impact of the Iroquois Confederacy on the construction of the US Constitution. The resolution noted that the framers of the US Constitution, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, admired the concepts, principles, and governmental practices of the Iroquois Confederacy. Franklin, in particular, was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy, as evidenced by his printing of an Iroquois leader's speech urging union among the American colonies in 1744.

However, it is important to note that there is limited direct evidence of the influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the US Constitution in the congressional journals and Constitutional Convention records. While the Iroquois Confederacy may have been a source of inspiration, the US Constitution differs significantly from the Iroquois Constitution in several key aspects, such as the treatment of states and the process of appointing lawmakers.

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The Six Nations

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, is a union of Native American tribes that dates back several centuries. The confederacy initially consisted of an alliance between five tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. In 1722, the Tuscarora tribe joined the confederacy, bringing the total number of tribes to six. The Iroquois refer to themselves as the Haudenosaunee, which means "people of the longhouse," referring to their traditional bark-covered longhouses that housed multiple families.

The Iroquois Confederacy occupied a significant portion of lands west of the colonial settlements, including what is now the modern-day state of New York and beyond. They were a powerful factor in North American colonial policy, and their independence was respected by the French, Dutch, and English colonists. However, during the American Revolution, the Iroquois Confederacy dissolved, and the various tribes were forced from their homelands by the United States federal government.

The influence of the Six Nations' laws and governance structure on the U.S. Constitution is a subject of historical debate. Some scholars argue that the federal structure of the U.S. Constitution, as well as notions of individual liberty and the separation of powers, were influenced by the example set by the Iroquois Confederacy. Additionally, the Iroquois' concept of a higher power granting them their rights and the importance of peace may have had an impact on the framers of the U.S. Constitution. However, others dispute this claim, pointing out significant differences between the two forms of government and the lack of concrete evidence of the Founding Fathers' familiarity with the Iroquois system.

Land ownership and loss

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Six Nations, was a union of Native American tribes present in lands that are today the modern-day state of New York and beyond. The confederacy was governed by the Iroquois Constitution, also known as the Great Law of Peace, which established an egalitarian society ruled by a council. The Iroquois Constitution was important because it established peace between the Native American tribes of northern New York.

The Iroquois Confederacy originally consisted of an alliance between five tribes: the Mohawk, the Oneida, the Onondaga, the Cayuga, and the Seneca. In 1722, the Iroquois Confederacy accepted the Iroquoian-speaking Tuscarora people from the southeast into the confederacy, bringing the total number of tribes to six. The Iroquois refer to themselves as the Haudenosaunee, which means "people of the longhouse," referring to their lengthy bark-covered longhouses that housed many families.

The Iroquois Constitution establishes a legislative confederacy and tells the narrative of the foundation of the confederacy and its original leaders. The constitution also references the Great Creator, who established the different tribes, granted the Iroquois nation the right to land, and promulgated the importance of peace. The Great Law of Peace was represented by symbols on wampum belts, which functioned as mnemonic devices for storytellers.

During the American Revolution, the Iroquois Confederacy dissolved, and the various tribes were forced from their homelands by the United States federal government. The Iroquois had already lost control of considerable territory by the War of 1812, and after the migration of a majority to Canada, the remaining Iroquois in New York were required to live mostly on reservations. The loss of land by the Iroquois was due in part to the encroachment of English colonists and the land-hungry New Englanders poised to migrate west.

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