History Summarized: Iroquois Native Americans

Summary

The Iroquois Confederation, often overlooked in American history, was a powerful force of Native American tribes in Upstate New York. Known as the Haudenosaunee or 'People of the Longhouse,' they established a unique government with the Great Law of Peace, emphasizing peace, shared resources, and gender equality. Their political system, with its federal structure, influenced the founding principles of the United States. Despite their peaceful origins, the Iroquois were drawn into conflicts like the Beaver Wars and the French and Indian War, leading to their division during the American Revolution. The war's aftermath saw their lands confiscated, and they were forced onto reservations, marking a tragic end for a once-great nation.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Iroquois Confederation, also known as the Haudenosaunee, was a league of Native American peoples in Upstate New York, often overlooked in American history.
• 🏡 The Longhouse was a central symbol for the Iroquois, representing both a physical dwelling and a metaphor for community and peace.
• 🤝 The Iroquois Confederation was formed by uniting five nations: Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca, with the Tuscarora joining later.
• 🌱 The Iroquois had a strong oral tradition, with much of their history and culture passed down through storytelling, influenced by the harsh winters of the Northeast.
• 📜 The Great Law of Peace was an oral constitution that guided the Iroquois, emphasizing fairness, shared resources, and respect for future generations.
• 🏌️‍♂️ The Iroquois resolved conflicts through a ball game similar to Lacrosse, showcasing their commitment to peace.
• 🌿 The Iroquois society valued gender equality, with women holding significant power, including the appointment and removal of council members.
• 🏛️ The Iroquois Confederation's government inspired the United States' federal system, with principles of unity in peace and shared governance.
• 🐾 The Beaver Wars were a series of conflicts over beaver fur trade, leading to the Iroquois' expansion and dominance in the region.
• 🔥 During the American Revolution, the Iroquois were divided in their allegiances, with some nations siding with the Colonies and others with Britain, leading to internal conflict and eventual displacement.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Iroquois Confederation in American history?

The Iroquois Confederation, also known as the Haudenosaunee, was a league of Native American peoples who played a significant role in shaping American history, particularly through their influence on the formation of the United States government's federalist principles.

What does the term 'People of the Longhouse' signify for the Iroquois?

The term 'People of the Longhouse' refers to the Iroquois' identity, symbolizing their unity and the communal living arrangements in longhouses, which were large structures that housed up to 20 families and served as a symbol of community and peace.

How did the Iroquois Confederation form, and who were its original members?

The Iroquois Confederation was formed by uniting five nations: the Mohawk, the Onondaga, the Oneida, the Cayuga, and the Seneca. According to legend, figures like Hiawatha, Jigonhsasee, and Dekanawidah co-founded the confederation to establish peace among these warring nations.

What is the Great Law of Peace, and how did it influence the Iroquois Confederation?

The Great Law of Peace is an oral constitution that was collaboratively drafted by the five original nations of the Iroquois Confederation. It aimed to ensure the safety and prosperity of all members by emphasizing fairness, gender equality, and a forward-looking approach to governance, considering the impact of decisions on the next seven generations.

How did the Iroquois Confederation's government structure compare to the early United States government?

The Iroquois government structure was a collection of small local states united in peace under a binding federal roof, which was a novel concept at the time. This structure influenced the United States' federalist government, with the U.S. Constitution reflecting many principles of the Great Law of Peace.

What were the Beaver Wars, and how did they impact the Iroquois?

The Beaver Wars were a series of conflicts in the 1600s where the Iroquois and other Native American nations fought over hunting grounds for beavers, whose fur was highly valued by European traders. These wars led to the Iroquois becoming the dominant power in the region but also set the stage for future conflicts.

How did the Iroquois Confederation's neutrality during the American Revolution affect them?

Despite their initial neutrality, the Iroquois Confederation was ultimately drawn into the American Revolution, with some nations allying with the British and others with the Colonies. This division, along with raids on their lands by both sides, led to internal conflict and a significant weakening of the confederation.

What was the outcome for the Iroquois after the American Revolution?

Following the American Revolution, the Iroquois were forced to cede much of their land through a series of treaties that often ignored their rights. The confederation was weakened, and they were displaced to reservations, marking a significant decline from their previous status as a powerful and unified force.

How did the Iroquois Confederation's culture and traditions persist despite the challenges they faced?

The Iroquois Confederation's culture and traditions have persisted through the resilience of the individual nations and their commitment to maintaining their heritage. Despite the loss of land and autonomy, they have continued to practice their customs and pass down their oral traditions.

What is the significance of the Iroquois Confederation's influence on the U.S. Constitution, and why is it often overlooked?

The influence of the Iroquois Confederation on the U.S. Constitution is significant because it represents the adoption of a successful governance model by the founding fathers. However, this influence is often overlooked due to historical narratives that prioritize European contributions to the development of American democracy.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Iroquois Confederation: A Peaceful Powerhouse

This paragraph introduces the Iroquois Confederation, a significant yet often overlooked group in American history. The Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee or 'People of the Longhouse,' were a league of five Native American nations residing in what is now Upstate New York. Their society was deeply rooted in the symbolism of the longhouse, a structure that housed up to 20 families and represented community and peace. The Iroquois' government, established through the Great Law of Peace, was innovative for its time, emphasizing fairness, gender equality, and a forward-looking approach to lawmaking that considered the impact on the next seven generations. The paragraph also highlights the Iroquois' strong oral tradition, which was influenced by the harsh winters of the Northeast, leading to a rich storytelling culture.

05:03

🏛️ The Influence of Iroquois on the U.S. Constitution

This paragraph delves into the profound influence of the Iroquois Confederation on the founding principles of the United States. The U.S. government's federalist structure, with its emphasis on a collection of local states united under a federal roof, was directly inspired by the Iroquois model. The Great Law of Peace served as a blueprint for the U.S. Constitution, particularly in its focus on long-term considerations for future generations. The paragraph also mentions the Beaver Wars, a series of conflicts initiated by the Iroquois to secure hunting grounds for beaver pelts, which were highly valued by European traders. Despite their initial peaceful intentions, the Iroquois became a dominant force in the region, engaging in warfare and eventually forming alliances with the British during the French and Indian War. However, their neutrality during the American Revolution and the subsequent division among their nations led to a weakening of the Confederation and a tragic loss of their lands and autonomy.

10:05

🌿 The Resilience and Legacy of the Iroquois

The final paragraph reflects on the Iroquois' resilience and the lasting impact of their culture despite the adversities they faced. Forced to relocate multiple times, the Iroquois now reside in designated reservations in the United States and Canada. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the power of cooperation and the importance of learning from one another. The paragraph also acknowledges the ongoing survival of the individual Iroquois nations' cultures, suggesting a continuity of their heritage. It concludes with a nod to the broader themes of conflict and cooperation that have shaped not only the Iroquois' history but also the larger narrative of human civilization.

Keywords

💡Iroquois Confederation

The Iroquois Confederation, also known as the Haudenosaunee, was a powerful Native American political entity consisting of several tribes united in what is now upstate New York. The video emphasizes the confederation's role in shaping American history, often overlooked in traditional narratives. The Iroquois Confederation is central to the video's theme, illustrating a model of cooperation and peace that influenced the founding principles of the United States.

💡Longhouse

The Longhouse was a type of dwelling used by the Iroquois, symbolizing community and peace. It was a large structure that could house up to 20 families, providing insulation against the cold and serving as a center for social and political life. In the video, the Longhouse is mentioned as a key symbol of the Iroquois' communal lifestyle and their commitment to unity, which is a significant aspect of their culture that the video seeks to highlight.

💡Great Law of Peace

The Great Law of Peace is an oral constitution that governed the Iroquois Confederation, emphasizing peace, prosperity, and fairness among its members. It required consideration of how decisions would affect the next seven generations, showcasing a forward-thinking approach to governance. The video uses the Great Law of Peace to draw parallels between the Iroquois' political system and the principles that later informed the U.S. Constitution.

💡Gender Equality

The Iroquois Confederation was noted for its gender equality, where women held significant power and respect within the community. Women could appoint and remove members of the council, and elderly women were known as 'clan mothers' with spiritual and practical responsibilities. The video highlights this aspect to contrast with the patriarchal norms of the time and to underscore the progressive nature of Iroquois society.

💡Beaver Wars

The Beaver Wars were a series of conflicts in the 1600s where the Iroquois expanded their territory to control the beaver fur trade, which was highly valued by European settlers. The video mentions these wars to illustrate a shift from the Iroquois' peaceful origins to a period of territorial expansion and conflict, which had significant impacts on their relations with neighboring tribes and European powers.

💡French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was part of the larger Seven Years' War and involved the Iroquois Confederation, who were allied with the British against the French. The video discusses this conflict to show how the Iroquois were drawn into European power struggles, which ultimately led to a decline in their autonomy and influence.

💡American Revolution

The American Revolution is a central event in U.S. history, but the video reframes it from the Iroquois perspective, calling it the 'Burning of the Valleys' due to the devastation it caused. The Iroquois attempted to remain neutral but were ultimately forced to choose sides, leading to internal conflicts and a further erosion of their unity and power.

💡Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ended the American Revolution but ignored the rights and holdings of Native American tribes, including the Iroquois. The video uses this treaty to illustrate the betrayal and marginalization of the Iroquois by both the British and the newly formed United States, leading to further land dispossession and cultural disruption.

💡Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the continent. The video briefly touches on this concept to critique the subsequent westward expansion that led to the displacement and suffering of Native American tribes, including the Iroquois, who were forced to relinquish their lands.

💡Reservations

Reservations are designated lands where Native American tribes, including the Iroquois, were forced to relocate. The video concludes by mentioning the current situation of the Iroquois living on reservations, highlighting the ongoing impact of historical injustices and the resilience of their culture despite the challenges.

Highlights

The Iroquois Confederation, often overlooked, played a significant role in shaping American history.

The Iroquois, also known as the Haudenosaunee, were a league of five Native American nations living in Upstate New York.

The Longhouse symbolized community and peace for the Iroquois, representing their unity and shared governance.

The Iroquois' origin story involves the unification of five warring nations into a peaceful alliance by Hiawatha, Jigonhsasee, and Dekanawidah.

The Great Law of Peace, an oral constitution, was created to ensure the safety and prosperity of the Iroquois Confederation.

The Iroquois Confederation's government was innovative, with principles of federalism and gender equality.

Women in the Iroquois society held significant power, including the appointment and removal of council members.

The Iroquois used sports, such as Lacrosse, to settle disputes peacefully.

The structure of the U.S. government was directly modeled after the Iroquois Federation, with federalist principles.

The Iroquois Confederation's influence on the U.S. Constitution is often unacknowledged but significant.

The Beaver Wars were a series of conflicts over beaver fur trade, leading to the Iroquois' expansion and dominance.

During the French and Indian War, the Iroquois were divided in their allegiances, aligning with both the British and the French.

The American Revolution had devastating effects on the Iroquois, leading to the 'Burning of the Valleys' and internal conflicts.

The Treaty of Paris in 1783 ignored Native American holdings, leading to forced relocations and land seizures.

Despite their historical significance, the Iroquois were marginalized and their culture and land rights were undermined.

The Iroquois' story serves as an example of the importance of cooperation and the consequences of colonization.

Transcripts

American History tends to emphasize how the colonies won their freedom

from the oppressive British empire and while that's true

it's only part of the picture. See there were a lot

of players in the new worlds during and before the time of the

revolution. One of the most remarkable yet often overlooked

forces in shaping the course of history is the Iroquois Confederation.

The Iroquois was a league of five Native American (the Tuscorara was the one who joined in 1722)

peoples living in what is now known as Upstate New York, and these guys

are really cool! But they're often overlooked or

underappreciated in most written history.

Lucky for all of you

I spent WEEKS tracking down

a Notorious yet Incredibly Rare source

that goes into the Iroquois history with Exquisite detail!

[Intro Music: Drums and Swooshie Sword-like Sythesizers]

(Audience: CHILDWHY)

So let's fire it up and learn some history:

[Thumping Music and the sound of swords and blood] (The animation is really good though.)

AUGH! *Dies*

[Nervously] Okay...

Maybe I need to reevaluate my sources

Okay, so jokes aside, who ARE the Iroquois?

Well, the name Iroquois isn't quite accurate.

Europeans called them the Iroquois but we don't actually know where that

name came from. We DO know that they would've called themselves

the Haudenosaunee or the people of the Longhouse.

The Longhouse itself was... well... a long house

that they all lived in. As it had good insulation from the

cold winters and could hold upwards of 20 families at a time in it.

But beyond just a living space the Longhouse was deeply

symbolic of the Iroquois. The legends says

that the Longhouse was where the original 5 nations of what became the Iroquois

swore to peace and devised their subsequent government. The Longhouse

is the symbol of community and peace so it was the

perfect symbol for the Iroquois to identify themselves with.

The Iroquois also considered their share of land as one giant longhouse

uniting them all. So... yeah!

People of the Longhouse checks out! Almost all of what

we actually know the Iroquois comes from a strong oral tradition.

We're not super sure about the early history because there aren't

any written sources but the origin story is told roughly as follows:

Originally, there were 5 nations:

the Mohawk, the Onondaga, the Oneida, the Cayuga, and the Seneca

They spoke pretty much the same language and pretty much had the same culture

but they warring on and off with each other

for years and probably even centuries. Somewhere in

possibly/probably in the 1400 or 1500s a few

people wanted peace. And according to the legend, Hiawatha,

Jigonhsasee and Dekanawidah co-founded the Iroquois

Confederation by uniting those 5 nations of the Great Lakes,

One by one, into a peaceful alliance that would last for centuries.

That's the bare bones (and they mean BARE) of the story. Extra Credits tells

the story really well if you wanna see it in more detail, but since

I'm on a time crunch and still have a few centuries left to get through, I need to move on.

Like I said earlier, the history is a little dubious because it's

all oral tradition, but there's a good reason for that.

In case you're not from the American North East, I'll let you know right now

It gets C o l d in the winter

Nobody was eager to get frostbite, so most people stayed inside

the longhouses and they'd pass

the days, weeks, and months by telling stories.

So weirdly enough, the climate helped play a role

in enforcing the strong and persisting oral tradition.

So... Hooray for the murderous cold! Back to history,

The 5 nations agreed to the Great Law of Peace,

an oral constitution that was drafted cooperatively by

all 5 nations, and designed to ensure the safety and prosperity

of everyone in the Iroquois Confederation. One famous

feature of the law was how forward looking it was.

No law could be passed without giving specific consideration

to how it'll affect each of the next seven generations (Something America should learn about).

[Awed] Which.. Just... Damn!

That's really cool! The Iroquois

also lived in a genuinely interwoven community.

Everyone lived in longhouses together and almost everything was shared

between people. Also everyone was treated super fairly!

And their gender equality was top notch.

While men hunted more on average than women and women farmed

more on average then men, but that honestly kinda tends to happen.

Women were highly respected in the community. Women

had the power to appoint members to the Confederation's counsel, and remove them

if they weren't governing judiciously. Elderly women were respected as

"clan mothers" and had many spiritual and practical

responsibilities among their people. And let's not forget that the

earth was personified as female.

You know... Mother earth!

Although given the abundance of fertility themes afoot

that one shouldn't be surprising. Following the formation of the

Confederation and the implementation of the Great Law of Peace (say that 5 times fast)

everyone's quality of life went up by a lot.

Raids and local conflict stopped almost entirely

as the council would rule on things and people wouldn't resort to violence.

One such way the Iroquois would settle

differences and disputes was by playing a sport involving a ball

and a curved stick. Which, we today, call Lacrosse!

If two groups had beef with each other, they just throw

a few hundred dudes onto a field and play for days! That's kind of

hilarious, but also amazing!

I, for one, am honestly looking forward to when world wars

are fought via Yu-Gi-Oh duels. So fun ball games

and egalitarian culture aside, the actual government

of the Iroquois is Kind of Incredible. The Multi-National Peace Agreement

was a huge deal because nothing of the sort had ever

been done before. In the Americas, or anywhere else.

The fundamental principles of the Iroquois government being

a collection of small local states united in peace

under a binding federal roof were entirely new. But still, that all

might sound familiar to you because there's this

cool new nation called the "United States of America".

And, well, the proof's kind of in the name!

This fact often goes unacknowledged, but the United

States was founded on the Federalist governing

principles of the Iroquois. And the constitution is, in many ways,

a codified version of the Great Law of Peace.

And that's not just crack-potted revisionism.

See a little known gentlemen's club called- uh-

CONGRESS

Officailly recognized in 1988 that the structure of the U.S. government is

directly modeled after the Iroquois Federation

And this next claim isn't properly substantiated historically

So grain of salt, but according to modern day Iroquois

Several members of the confederation were present during the continental congress

And kept upstairs

So that when the American founders had a question about something

They would just run Upstairs and ask what the Iroquois did to resolve that given problem.

If you ask me, It Shows.

I think it's really cool that the American founders took so much from a system

That clearly worked and employed to such good effect- [Blue is fanboying here]

- in what became the american government

We often want to think of the constitution as a revival

of great Democratic Ideals of Ancient Athens or Rome

But all of the Capital's stone collumns

and Greco-Roman Architecture really just establishes an aesthetic

The REAL BONES of the US Government comes from the Iroquois.

In the 1600s, the Iroquois expanded outwards in a series of conflicts

called the Beaver Wars.

Now unlike the great Australian Emu War of 1932 (Wait, WHAT)

This wasn't a war against Beavers but For Them.

See, with the French and British Colonies starting to gradually take shape

Well-to-do Europeans back on the Continent wanted to import goods

And the most prized good was beaver fur.

the Iroquois like many Native American Nations wanted In

So they hunted all of the beavers that they could,

Until local Beaver Populations tanked and everyone needed to find new

hunting grounds. Since nobody wanted to be left out of the trade,

Everyone started fighting over the remaining Beavers

The Iroquois, despite their peaceful origins, began fighting and expanding

with their neighbors to secure the best grounds and make the most trade.

The Iroquois became, by far, the most dominant in the region.

And even went on to attack 'New France' on a couple of occasions.

These conflicts were seriously brutal.

With thousands dead and tens of thousands displaced.

In the aftermath of the beaver wars, the British and the Iroquois buddied up

and the Iroquois made a temporary peace with the French.

About 50 years later, France, Brittian, and whole bunch of other places-

Erupted into a giant Cartoon Dustcloud- (They fought)- of globetrotting fighting.

Partially because the Brittish wanted to push more westward

in America and get more 'England Colonizing' going on

But France was like

Aw Heeeelll Naw! (Blue's Voice squeaks sassily)

A large handful of Native American Nations were caught in the slap fight

and had to pick sides.

Based on both location and prior alliances, the line up was pretty much

Britain and the Iroqois Against France and Everyone else.

Which explains why Anglo-centric circles refer to this conflict as

the French and Indian War.

Unlike the Beaver Wars, the Iroquois were

pretty calm and casual during this one. Because most nations had

already learned their lesson on messing with the Iroquois a century prior

However the Iroqous were given a hard time by the

French. And the Brittish didn't quite seem to care...

Britain also didn't do much to stop the flow of settlers pushing

into Iroquois land over the previous half century.

and with a vastly diminished french presence after the war

Why bother now, right?

While the Iroqouis didn't do a lot in the war itself

The conflict still marked a drop-off in

relations between them and the British.

This partially explains why, when the Colonies declared war

on the British (Empire) in 1775

the Iroquois had no interest what-so-ever in picking a side.

They pretty much figured out that money and land meant more to their English speaking neighbors

than friendship for friendship's sake.

They wanted to stick to their peaceful

roots and remain neutral as long as they could.

But when they realized that they needed to be in the good graces of the eventual winner...

the Iroquois were torn. The Tuscarora,

who (had) joined the Iroqouis in 1722, and Oneida allied with the Colonies

While the Mohawk, Onondaga, Seneca, and Cayuga allied with Brittain.

Partially for old times sake, but also for trade

and territory reasons. Even though Britain had a habit of

breaking agreements, the new Colonies didn't have any formal

agreements at all with the Iroquois. So they were a wild card.

But those of you who are aware that the United States is currently a

Thing That Exists- Can see why the Iroquois are about to have a Really bad time.

During the war, the British mostly occupied cities while the Colonists held strong in

the countryside. It should be no surprise, that the Colonists made a

regular habit of raiding and burning the Iroquois land.

Among the Iroquois the American Revolution isn't referred to as a

Revolution. Or even as a war.

Many simply called it the 'Burning of the Valleys' - which should get the point across.

In addition to all this, the split alliances

of the Iroquois nations often lead to Iroquois fighting Iroquois

Which hadn't happened since before they became the Iroquois in the first place

It was so bad that the confederation just kinda, Broke after the war

The Treaty of Paris in 1783,

which ended the war, completely Ignored the holdings of any Native Americans

and subsequent treaties between Natives and

Americans weren't so much treaties, as they were a series of official

requests to vacate thier ancestral homeland - Or Else.

And the Iroquois were so weakened after the war that they had no choice but to accept.

These land acquisitions were explicitly illegal according to America's own:

Articles of Confederation AND the later constitution!

[Sardonically] But those laws are just suggestions right?

What follows is a bunch of Manifest Destiny

that I won't get into, by sheer virtue of how depressing it is.

But suffice to say that the Americans felt that their effort in winning the war

justified almost a century of non-stop conquest

This was great if you were an American!

But it was pretty rough if you were a NATIVE American.

As for the Iroquois, they split up, Moved. Moved again.

And today live on designated Reservations in America and Canada.

It's really sad to see such a strong nation

built on a foundation of peace get the short end of the stick

- in a conflict they didn't even ask for. But it's at least nice to know

that the cultures of the Individual Nations have lived on

in the centuries following (the conflict).

So... there you have it.

The Iroquois are an underappreciated player in

American history, as it is. But they're such unique people

that it's worth looking at Iroquois History in itself too.

I think they serve as a great example

of how effective and worthwhile cooperation can be

And how much we can all benefit when we learn from each other

*CENSORSHIP*

AND how history is actually about a centuries old conflict between Assassins and Templars

That too.

[Awesome Music for Awesome Patrons]

((Blue has been pronouncing Iroquois as "Ee-roh-koy"))

((And that word is waaay to hard to spell. Probably French. ))

((Also, these sentences just RUN ON. ))

((Blue, I love you. But you talk wayyy too fast.))

((...Red does that too actually...))

((Nothing could have prepared them for the sudden demands of international trade.... sad.))

This has been an Overly Sarcastic Translation.