What is the significance of the iroquois league

Before the Europeans came to North America, the Iroquois made tools from stone, bone, and antlers. They used bow and arrows to kill black bear, elk, deer, rabbit, and wolves.

They trapped wild turkey, ducks and other birds. To the Iroquois people, the longhouse meant much more than the building where they lived. The longhouse was also a symbol for many of the traditions of their society. Five nations formed the original Iroquois Confederacy. These nations shared a territory they thought of as a large longhouse. What are some Iroquois names? Who wrote the Iroquois Constitution? The law was written on wampum belts, conceived by Dekanawidah, known as the Great Peacemaker, and his spokesman Hiawatha.

The original five member nations ratified this constitution near modern-day Victor, New York, with the sixth nation the Tuscarora being added in What type of democracy was used by the Iroquois?

The Iroquois Confederacy, founded by the Great Peacemaker in , is the oldest living participatory democracy on earth2. What did the Iroquois trade? The Iroquois traded excess corn and tobacco for the pelts from the tribes to the north and the wampum from the tribes to the east. How do you find imaginary roots? What is internal and external criticism of historical sources?

Co-authors 3. The members debated with care. If the groups disagreed on an issue, the Onondaga cast the deciding vote. The Iroquois oral tradition includes stories about Hiawatha. Some legends say he was an Onondaga who was adopted by the Mohawk.

When he was young, he was violent and harmed others. One day, Hiawatha saw the peaceful face of Deganawida in a vision. Right away, he regretted his violent ways and started following Deganawida. He convinced the Oneida, Cayuga, and Mohawk to join the league. Legend says Hiawatha realized that shell beads could be woven into belts. The belts could help people recall events and remember agreements. You could say he invented wampum. The Hiawatha wampum belt honors the founding of the Iroquois League.

The central image shows the Tree of Peace in Onondaga territory. The four squares depict the other members of the league. Retrieved on November 27, Fordham University.

Albany Plan of Union Yale Law School. Retrieved on November 29, National Archives. Walker, G. Constitution of the Iroquois Nations. Native Voices. Editor's note: The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author. Iroquois Confederacy and the Great Law of Peace. House or Senate. Providing Support for PBS.