Lesson 6 Inquiry
Completion requirements
Inquiry
How did the Haudenosaunee influence the United States of America or the United Nations?
In 1744, Canasatego, leader of the Onondaga nation spoke for the Haudenosaunee to the British colonists of New England.
In 1751, Benjamin Franklin wrote:
It is hard to say on which democratic model the Americans based their government. Thomas Jefferson, for example, suggested basing America's government on the French model of democracy. Alexander Hamilton recommended the British model of democracy. George Washington referred to the Roman republic. Many of the founding fathers had Roman nicknames: George Washington was nicknamed Cato the Younger. John Adams was referred to as Cicero, a Roman lawyer.
Words such as republic, virtue, president, capitol, constitution, confederacy, and Senate are Roman (Latin) words.
The legislative and judicial processes such as veto, lawyers, and code as in Criminal Code are Roman in origin. Symbols such as an eagle, or the image of a leader on a coin — are ideas that come from the Roman republic.
One other suggestion came from James Madison. He recommended a republican government based on the ideals of Lycia, a city state in modern-day Turkey.
The republic of Lycia was formed of twenty-three villages. They were a model of a federal union. The strength of each village was proportionate to its size. Each village had elected representatives.
Today the United States make decisions based on election and majority rule. The Iroquois base their decisions on hereditary family ties and consensus. US congressmen and representatives are not appointed or chosen. Representation in the US is based on the size of population. The Iroquois clans choose representatives based on family status and hierarchy, not on the size of population. The United States is based on the principles of equality, not social status. The United States has a centralized authority called a federal government; the Iroquois do not have a central authority.
The Haudenausonee had arguably more of an influence on the Charter of the United Nations than it did on the United States and Canada. The United Nations is an international organization of countries set up in 1945 to promote international peace, security, and cooperation. Like the Iroquois confederacy, the United Nations focusses on international diplomacy. The Iroquois confederacy aimed at continuing the friendship of the five member nations and forming alliances with other nations.
". . . We heartily recommend union and a good agreement between you our brethren. Our wise forefathers established union and amity between the Five Nations; this has made us formidable; this has given us great weight and authority with our neighboring Nations. We are a powerful confederacy, and by your observing the same methods our wise forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh strength and power."
In 1751, Benjamin Franklin wrote:
“It would be a strange thing if ... Six Nations should be capable...of forming... an union, and be able to execute it in such a manner as that it has subsisted ages and appears indissoluble; and yet that a like union should be impracticable for ten or a dozen English colonies.”
Which Democracy Most Influenced American Founding Fathers?
It is hard to say on which democratic model the Americans based their government. Thomas Jefferson, for example, suggested basing America's government on the French model of democracy. Alexander Hamilton recommended the British model of democracy. George Washington referred to the Roman republic. Many of the founding fathers had Roman nicknames: George Washington was nicknamed Cato the Younger. John Adams was referred to as Cicero, a Roman lawyer.
Words such as republic, virtue, president, capitol, constitution, confederacy, and Senate are Roman (Latin) words.
The legislative and judicial processes such as veto, lawyers, and code as in Criminal Code are Roman in origin. Symbols such as an eagle, or the image of a leader on a coin — are ideas that come from the Roman republic.
One other suggestion came from James Madison. He recommended a republican government based on the ideals of Lycia, a city state in modern-day Turkey.
Today the United States make decisions based on election and majority rule. The Iroquois base their decisions on hereditary family ties and consensus. US congressmen and representatives are not appointed or chosen. Representation in the US is based on the size of population. The Iroquois clans choose representatives based on family status and hierarchy, not on the size of population. The United States is based on the principles of equality, not social status. The United States has a centralized authority called a federal government; the Iroquois do not have a central authority.
Using the details you have learned in this unit, consider: How is the United States' style of democracy similar to and different than the Iroquois Confederacy style of democracy?
The Haudenausonee had arguably more of an influence on the Charter of the United Nations than it did on the United States and Canada. The United Nations is an international organization of countries set up in 1945 to promote international peace, security, and cooperation. Like the Iroquois confederacy, the United Nations focusses on international diplomacy. The Iroquois confederacy aimed at continuing the friendship of the five member nations and forming alliances with other nations.
What is the Best Way to Make a Decision?
Resources for Inquiry
- Textbook
- Review the previous lesson on the Iroquois Confederacy.
- Read pages 94 and 95 of the textbook and consider the facts expressed in the first two paragraphs. Think about the opinions expressed by various people on these two pages.
