Constitution Of The Iroquois Nations: A Comparative Analysis

The Anasazi and the Iroquois Confederacy were similar, however they were also different in many ways. The Anasazi began building communities in the southwest, specifically New Mexico and Arizona approximately 700 years before Columbus’s arrival. On the other hand, the Iroquois Confederacy originated in the Northeast and consisted of five tribes: the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas. Both groups of Native Americans were ruled by leaders, however it is mentioned that the tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy were sometimes ruled by women. In addition, both groups had main communities: the Anasazi’s community being in Chaco Canyon and the Iroquois Confederacy’s main community being near modern day Syracuse NY. The homes created by

United States Americans have always learned about the constitution, but they don’t know everything about it. What most people don’t know is that the U.S Constitution is based off the Iroquois Constitution. The Iroquois is a group of Indians that were having conflict between their five nations; because of this they created a constitution to unite and give structure to their nations. Their constitution is mostly different than the U.S. Constitution, but there are a few similarities between the two.

How come they have never met each other? Hey, but they all live in Canada and all met the Europeans! I wonder if the Europeans ever mentioned one tribe to the other? Anyway, the Inuit, Haida, and the Iroquois are the same in many ways but are a lot different.

The U.S. Constitution and Iroquois Constitution have very different types of structures. The U.S. Constitution states, “Each house may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and with the Concurrence of two, expel a Member” (Madison, Section). This constitution has a very sincere, businesslike tone, and is written out like a contract. This constitution is wrote in headings, articles, and sections. The U.S. Constitution is all about business and making sure everyone is following their rules. The U.S. Constitution does not have as much peace in it like the Iroquois Constitution does. The Iroquois Constitution says, “... see the council fire of the Great Peace” (Dekanawidah, 25). This constitution has a very hopeful, severe tone, and is written out like a narrative, oral tradition

For an example there are many of differences between the Iroquois and the United States constitution but there are as well some similarities, more than some people think. For example in both of the constitutions they have rules that the people have to obey or they have consequences that they will have to go through, but the rules, and the consequences are different. Some laws for the U.S. deals with the 50 states while with the Iroquois they just go for the people because there are no states in the Iroquois Confederacy. If a law is broken in the U.S. the person would either be thrown into jail or back then, get the death sentence, while in the Iroquois they will just get kicked out of the confederacy.

The Iroquois Constitution forms the first democratic republic and example of sovereign governance by the consent of a people in North American history. The confederacy of the League of Five Nations, who constructed the Iroquois Constitution, preceded the European colonization. Historical records and references provide evidence of the strong influence the Iroquois legislative process and constitution had on shaping the ideas and words of the US Constitution. Specific and distinct similarities unquestionably mark the Iroquois Constitution as a strongly influential model America’s founding fathers used in forming our United States Constitution, despite criticism to the contrary. The connection between the two is referred to as the

     The Constitutions of both the Iroquois and the United States have similarities and differences between them. The Iroquois constitution came earlier in history than the U.S one did. Some of the same ideas that were in the Iroquois’ constitution were carried over to some of the ideas that we use in our government today. In this paper I will compare and contrast these ideas as they relate with one another. Ideas like Vito Power, When a Leader Gets Sick, 3 Branches of Government, A Bicameral Legislature, and impeachment are portrayed in both of these constitutions.

Another difference is how they were written. The Iroquois Constitution was written in first person throughout the entire document. Meaning the writer of this constitution often uses “I”, “I am Dekanawidah and with the Five Nations confederate lords I plant the Tree of the Great Peace.” (24). While on the other hand the United States Constitution was written third person. “All legislative Powers herein shall be vested in a Congress of the United

The Native American Indian tribe called the Iroquois contributed greatly toward America. They have many stories about the world, and how things came to be the way they are. They have one story about the creation of the world. They use oral traditional elements in this story which is represented by nature. They also use a romantic aspect, which is represented by God’s and the super natural.

The Constitutions of both the Iroquois and the United States have similarities and differences between them. The Iroquois constitution came earlier in history than the U.S one did. Some of the same ideas that were in the Iroquois' constitution were carried over to some of the ideas that we use in our government today. In this paper I will compare and contrast these ideas as they relate with one another. Ideas like Vito Power, When a Leader Gets Sick, 3 Branches of Government, A Bicameral Legislature, and impeachment are portrayed in both of these constitutions.

The Iroquois Constitution and the United States Constitution are different and similar in structure, symbols, and council. In the Iroquois Dekanawidah uses symbols to represent peace and other things. The United States Constitution does not use symbols.

The United States Constitution was heavily influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy’s political theory, though Eurocentric history lessons often teach about the French and Greek influence. In 1988, the House Concurrent Resolution 331 passed which recognized the Iroquois Confederacy’s contribution to the U.S. Constitution. Even after H.Con.Res 331 was passed, the Iroquois Confederacy’s influence continues to be disregarded, most people have to wait until specific classes in higher education to learn about the connection. With the whitewashing of history, many Native American influences have been overlooked that directly correlate to the creation of the U.S. Constitution, though the ‘Founding Fathers’ did revise the Iroquois’ political theory to better match the ‘freedom’ of the U.S.

The Beaver Wars were fought from 1640 - 1701, this war was also called the French and Iroquois Wars. The war was fought between the Iroquois Confederacy and the French and their Native allies from the Huron and Algonquin tribes who were from the central Great Lakes area (Ohio Valley). The Iroquois Confederacy consisted of Native Americans from five different tribes Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca people who were from the eastern part of Great Lakes (New York state). The Mohawk tribe began to establish trading agreements with the Dutch exchanging beaver pelts for guns, however the Mohawks also wanted to expand their territory expanding their market in the Great Lakes region. The French and their allies took offense to the expansion by the Iroquois Confederacy and a war

The New York Times stated in an article, “One of the main influences on the framers of the Constitution was the unwritten democratic constitution under which the Iroquois Confederacy had operated since the 16th century, according to a group of American Indians and scholars.” (nytimes). So what is the United States Constitution? “The U.S. Constitution established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, presided over by George Washington” (history.com). Also within the constitution, there is a system of checks and balances within the government. The idea of having three different branches of government and checks and balances is to ensure that not one single branch could have all power or abuse their power (history.com). The three branches of

During week two of ethnomusicology class Native American culture was discussed. In this essay, the specific culture honed in on will be the Iroquois. The original location of the Iroquois was in upstate New York between Niagara Falls and the Adirondack Mountains. They conquered a lot of land in northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada. The Iroquois population in 1660 was roughly 25,000 people. Today there are about 30,000 people with at least some Iroquois background. While Iroquois society was far from being a female dominated matriarchy, Iroquois women enjoyed social equality and respect. In New York and Wisconsin, the Iroquois culture and traditions are still preserved today. Some words that best characterize modern Iroquois are traditional,