The Iroquois - Haudenosaunee- Confederacy

Created by, Kasha Mastrodomenicowww.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

Vocabulary• Confederacy: a group of people that are united in an alliance• League: a group of people in a compact or agreement with a

common goal• Reservation: a tract of public land given to a group of people to

set them apart from others• Clan: a group of people of common decent or common family line• Consensus: general agreement• Wampum: a string of beads that was used by the Iroquois for

money, representation of treaties and history, and ornament• Representative Government: a ruling body over the people who

rule based on the people’s will.

Essential Questions

• What nations are members of the Iroquois Confederacy?

• What is the importance of clans?• What are the different roles of men and

women in the Iroquois Confederacy?• What is the process of the Grand Council?

What is the Iroquois Confederacy?

• A league of 6 nations:

Pronunciation

• Haudenosaunee – how-den-o-SHOW-nee• Mohawk – Moh-hawk• Oneida – Oh-nahy-duh • Onondaga – on-uh n-daw –guh• Cayuga – key-yoo-guh or kahy-yoo-guh• Seneca – sen- i- kuh• Tuscarora – tuhs-kuh-rawr-rh

Where was the Iroquois Confederacy?

Where are the Iroquois Located Now?

How was the Iroquois Confederacy Created?

• Hiawatha (Onondaga then adopted as Mohawk as a chief) and Deganawidah known as the peace maker united the tribes and made the Great Law of Peace.

• Tuscarora joined the Iroquois Confederacy in 1722

• video

Hiawatha

Deganawidah

When and Why Did the Iroquois Confederacy Begin?

• Approximately 1142 AD• Purpose: keep peace

between tribes and settle conflicts

Iroquois Clans• The Peacemaker created the clans• The clan system united the nations and

ensured peace among them because they were considered to be family no matter what nation they were in.

• Clan members didn’t marry each other.• Clan members lived together in a

longhouse.• Iroquois were matrilineal. • Each clan had a common female ancestor.• Husbands moved into the wife’s

longhouse. • When a child was born, he or she became

part of the mother’s clan.

Iroquois Clans

Seneca

Older BrothersKeepers of the Western Door

Cayuga

Younger Brothers

Onondaga

Keepers of the Council Fire

Oneida

Younger Brothers

Mohawk

Older Brothers keepers of the Eastern Door

Wolf x x x x x

Bear x x x x x

Turtle x x x x x

Snipe x x

Deer x x

Beaver x x

Heron x x x

Hawk x x

Eel x

Role of Women in the Iroquois Confederacy

Chose and advised the Hoyaneh (Chiefs) on the basis of the Women’s and Men’s Councils

Had a strong indirect influence on decisions

Position was hereditary

Clan Mothers Participated in

Women’s Councils which advised the Clan Mothers

Used consensus

Women

Role of Men in the Iroquois Confederacy

Made decisions for their nation

Represented their nations and clans in the decision making of the Grand Council

Used consensus

HoyanehParticipated in Men’s Councils which advised the Clan Mothers

Participated in decision making for their nation using consensus

Hoyaneh (chiefs) were chosen from among them

Men

The Grand Council

Seneca & Mohawk

reach consensus

Cayuga and Oneida reach

consensus

Onondaga give a

judgment

If all nations agree a

decision is made

Process starts over until there is consensus

What types of decisions are made?• Peace treaties• Trade agreements• War

Decisions were recorded on wampum.

How are decisions made?

How is the Grand Council Chosen?

Hoyaneh3 Clan Mothers

Women’s Council

Men’s CouncilEach

Cla

n

advise

advise

Choose & advise

Represent Clan at Council

Consulting the Clans

Clan meeting

gives everyone

in the clan-

women, men,

children, and Elders – a chance to speak.

Clan Mother informs

clan chief of the

decision the clan reached

by consensus

Clan chief carries

decision to the

Council of chiefs of

the nation

Council of

Chiefs of the nation comes

to a consensus and brings that

decision to the Grand

Council

How Many Representatives Does Each Nation Have?

Grand Council

50 Hoyaneh

Onondaga 14

Oneida 9

Seneca8

Mohawk9

Cayuga10

Essential Questions

• What nations are members of the Iroquois Confederacy?

• What is the importance of clans?• What are the different roles of men and

women in the Iroquois Confederacy?• What is the process of the Grand Council?