Iroquois Confederacy

Iroquois Confederacy Haudenosaunee
c. 1570–1779
Status	Confederacy
Capital	Onondaga
Common languages	Iroquoian languages
Religion	Longhouse Religion
Government	Confederacy
Founders
History
• Formation	c. 1570
• Disruption post-American Revolution	1779

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee or Six Nations, was a sophisticated and enduring confederation of six Native American tribes residing in present-day New York and parts of Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Quebec. The member tribes included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and later the Tuscarora.

History

The Iroquois Confederacy was established around 1570, though the exact date is subject to historical debate. The confederacy was formed to bring peace among the member tribes and to establish a collective strength in negotiations or conflicts with other tribes and Europeans. The founders, Dekanawida, known as the Great Peacemaker, and his spokesman Hiawatha, played crucial roles in its formation.

The Confederacy's influence peaked in the 17th and 18th centuries, during which it played a strategic role in the power dynamics between British and French colonists in North America. The Iroquois were known for their sophisticated political system and the Iroquois Great Law of Peace, an oral constitution by which the six tribes were governed.

Government and Society

The Iroquois Confederacy's government was a participatory democracy. Each tribe maintained its own leadership, but they sent chiefs to a Grand Council, which made decisions affecting the entire Confederacy. The Grand Council was held at the Onondaga tribe's territory, which was considered the central fire of the Confederacy.

Women held significant power within the society, particularly in terms of political influence and land rights. Clan mothers, or the female leaders of clans, had the authority to nominate and remove chiefs from the Grand Council.

Culture

The Iroquois culture was deeply intertwined with their beliefs in the Great Spirit, nature, and the importance of balance in life. They celebrated numerous ceremonies and festivals throughout the year, dictated by the agricultural calendar. The Longhouse Religion, which was based on the teachings of the Great Peacemaker, played a central role in their spiritual life.

Impact and Legacy

The democratic principles of the Iroquois Confederacy notably influenced the United States' Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Many historians and scholars believe that the Iroquois system inspired features such as federalism and the concept of a bicameral congress.

The Confederacy's structure began to weaken post-American Revolution, primarily due to land cessions and the impact of European diseases. Today, the Iroquois Confederacy continues to exist, albeit in a much-altered form, and strives to preserve its heritage and autonomy.

See also

• Native American tribes in the United States
• Indigenous peoples of Canada