Iroquois Confederacy

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The Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois Confederacy also referred to as the League of the Iroquois, is an agreement that five Native American tribes made as a resolution to tribal aggression. The five tribes made the agreement in the early 10th century in the current State of New York as historical records indicate. The Confederacy is the earliest record of representative leadership in the U.S. The first five tribes include the Serena, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, and Mohawk (“League of the Iroquois”). The Tuscarora joined the Confederacy in the 18th century.
The five tribes were in a constant war against each other before they formed the league. According to legend, a man who did not belong to either tribe, Deganawida, together with the chief of the Mohawk tribe (Hiawatha), encouraged the other chiefs to stop the fights (“League of the Iroquois”). The tribes agreed to the peace union and elected representative chiefs from each tribe to form a council. The council was a form of Judiciary that created laws that would later govern the Confederacy. The representatives held annual meetings to discuss the laws and solve the indifferences that arose. The council also acted as the intermediary between the U.S Government and the Confederacy. Even after the formation of the U.S Government, the Iroquois Confederacy remained legitimate and allowed its member tribes to act individually while respecting the Confederacy customs.
The crucial aspect of the league was “The Great Law” which governed the tribes.

The laws and customs were developed over time through the idea of “Great Peace” that was originally drafted by Hiawatha (“League of the Iroquois”). The council would hold meetings on arising issues until the affected tribes agreed. The council was also well respected. The factors made the League of the Iroquois successful for hundreds of years before the major wars between the French and the English started.
Works Cited
“The League of the Iroquois – Indian Country Wisconsin.” Home | Milwaukee Public Museum, www.mpm.edu/content/wirp/ICW-155.html.