The Iroquois Confederacy
Created by, Kasha Mastrodomenico
www.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:
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
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•
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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.
Seneca
Cayuga
Onondaga
Oneida
Mohawk
Older Brothers
Keepers of the
Western Door
Younger
Brothers
Keepers of the
Council Fire
Younger
Brothers
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
Hawk
x
Iroquois
Clans
Eel
x
x
x
x
Role of Women in the Iroquois Confederacy
Clan
Mothers
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
Women
Participated in
Women’s Councils
which advised the
Clan Mothers
Used consensus
Role of Men in the Iroquois Confederacy
Hoyaneh
Men
Made decisions for
their nation
Participated in
Men’s Councils
which advised the
Clan Mothers
Represented their
nations and clans
in the decision
making of the
Grand Council
Participated in
decision making
for their nation
using consensus
Used consensus
Hoyaneh (chiefs)
were chosen from
among them
The Grand Council
How are decisions made?
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.
Each Clan
How is the Grand Council Chosen?
Women’s
Council
3 Clan
Mothers
Men’s
Council
Choose
& advise
Hoyaneh
Represent
Clan at
Council
How Many Representatives Does Each
Nation Have?
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?