The Iroquois Influence on the U.S. Constitution: A Forgotten Legacy

The Iroquois Confederacy, often referred to as the League of the Iroquois or Haudenosaunee, is a remarkable democratic system that has existed for over 500 years. Remarkably, many of its foundational principles influenced early American founding fathers, particularly regarding governance and democracy.

Origins of the Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy is the oldest living participatory democracy in the world. It is a confederation of five Native American tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. The constitution of this confederacy is based on the principles of equality and inclusivity. The Great Law of Peace, established by the council of the Iroquois, laid down a set of principles that have been inspiring leaders for centuries.

Influence on the U.S. Constitution

It is difficult to quantify the extent of the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution. However, historical records and scholarly research suggest that there were notable connections between the two systems. Specifically, the Great Law of Peace provided a blueprint for democratic governance that the founding fathers found compelling.

Historical Evidence of Influence

A key piece of historical evidence is a translation of the Iroquois Constitution by Cadwallader Colden, which dates back to 1760. This book, available at the University of Oklahoma Law School website, outlines several principles that could be adopted by the United States. For instance, one of the most interesting proposals is the requirement for the Grand Council of sachems to meet every five years, unless there is an emergency. This would serve as a counterbalance to the continuous meetings of the U.S. Congress, which can often become gridlocked.

Another fascinating idea is the role of the tribal war chief. If either the women's or men's council decided that the sachems were acting improperly, they could convene a war chief to deliver a stern speech to the sachems. This function serves as a check on the power of the council, ensuring that decision-making is not governed by negative factional views or personal interests.

The Vision of the Founding Fathers

The founding fathers, recognizing the value of the Iroquois Confederacy, were drawn to its egalitarian and inclusive nature, seeing it as a model for the new democracy they were building. Unfortunately, the U.S. Constitution and its implementation largely diverged from these Iroquois principles due to cultural and historical contexts.

Key Assumptions Rejected

Two key assumptions of the Iroquois League that were particularly influential were subsequently rejected by the founding fathers:

1. Deliberative Councils for Consensus

The Iroquois League required its councils to seek universal agreement and consensus. Majority rule was considered divisive as it could alienate segments of the population. European monarchies, rooted in autocratic rule, could not accept the need to please everyone uniformly. The U.S. Constitution ultimately adopted a bicameral Congress and a presidential system, which can sometimes lead to gridlock and minority factions feeling ignored.

2. Bloodline Disparities

Another critical aspect of the Iroquois governance was the tracing of lineage and clan affiliation through the mother's bloodline. This was fundamentally at odds with European cultural norms, where lineage was typically traced through the father. The power of appointing members of the council lay exclusively with the clan mothers, a concept that the founding fathers found unpalatable due to their patriarchal society.

Conclusion

The Iroquois Confederacy remains a fascinating and underappreciated source of democratic governance. The principles of their constitution provided valuable insights to the founding fathers, although many of these ideas were ultimately rejected due to cultural and practical constraints. Nevertheless, the legacy of the Iroquois remains a poignant reminder of the potential for more inclusive and consensus-driven forms of governance.

To explore further, scholars and students can delve into the works of Cadwallader Colden and other early writers on the Iroquois Confederacy. Engaging with these historical texts can provide a deeper understanding of the rich cultural heritage and its enduring influence on American democratic thought.

Keywords: Iroquois Confederacy, U.S. Constitution, Deliberative Councils