The Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee or Six Nations, was a powerful alliance of six Native American nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Established in the 16th or 17th century, it created a unified political system promoting peace, cooperation, and collective decision-making. The Confederacy’s Great Law of Peace emphasized consensus, diplomacy, and respect for individual roles, influencing governance models like the U.S. Constitution. It played a crucial role in regional stability, trade, and cultural preservation for its member nations.