Great Law of Peace facts for kids
The Great Law of Peace (in Mohawk: Kaianere’kó:wa), also called Gayanashagowa, is a very old set of rules and agreements for the Haudenosaunee people. They are also known as the "Six Nations." These nations include the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora peoples.
This important law was first passed down through spoken stories. It was also recorded using special symbols on wampum belts. The Great Law of Peace was created by a wise leader known as the Great Peacemaker, and his helper, Hiawatha. The first five nations agreed to this law a long time ago. The sixth nation, the Tuscarora, joined later in 1722.
The Great Law of Peace is like a constitution for the Iroquois Confederacy. It includes 117 different rules. The Iroquois nations are like the strong branches of an eastern white pine tree, which they call the Tree of Peace. Each nation has a special role in how the government works. Some historians think these events happened around the late 1100s. Others believe it was closer to the mid-1400s.
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Understanding the Great Law's Story and Rules
The stories of the Great Law of Peace are told in the languages of each Iroquois nation. This means the exact words can be a little different. However, the main ideas are the same. A scholar named William N. Fenton said that the Great Law served many purposes. It helped organize people within and between the nations. It was also the constitution for the Iroquois Confederacy. It included important ceremonies and shared history for the people.
The stories often share common parts, like:
- How the people first moved and settled in different areas.
- The birth and early life of Deganawida, the Peacemaker.
- His journey to the Mohawks to share his message of peace.
- How the "Mother of Nations" accepted his message.
- How the prophets showed their special powers.
- The challenges faced, like Tadadaho the Wizard, who tried to stop peace.
- How Hiawatha's family was tragically lost.
- Hiawatha's sadness and his journey away from Onondaga.
- How Hiawatha created wampum belts to help remember things.
- How Deganawida comforted Hiawatha.
- How the nations came together to transform Tadadaho and bring peace.
How the Confederacy Works
The Great Law also set up the rules for the Iroquois Confederacy. It explained how the chiefs and councils would work together. The Confederacy chose special symbols to represent their unity. It also declared itself a strong and independent group of nations.
Important Ceremonies
A key part of the Great Law is the "Condolence Ceremony." This is a series of special events. They are held when a chief passes away. The ceremonies help the people grieve and then choose a new chief. This process helps keep the Confederacy strong and united.
Stories from Different Nations
The Great Law of Peace has been passed down through generations. Many versions of the story exist from different Iroquois nations.
Mohawk Stories
Several versions from the Mohawk nation have been written down over time. Some were published in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These stories help us understand the Mohawk perspective on the Great Law.
Oneida Stories
The Oneida nation also has its own versions of the Great Law. Some of these stories have been shared by museums and the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. One oral historian, Paula Underwood, shared her family's stories. She said her ancestor, Shenandoah, worked closely with Benjamin Franklin. They discussed ideas that might have influenced the U.S. Constitution.
Onondaga Stories
Parts of a famous book called The Iroquois Book of Rites are based on Onondaga stories. Important Onondaga chiefs, like John Buck and John Arthur Gibson, shared their knowledge. Their stories were written down and studied by scholars.
Seneca Stories
The Seneca nation also has its own accounts of the Great Law. One book from 1902, The Legends of the Iroquois, shares Seneca stories. It even mentions a solar eclipse, which helps some people guess when the events happened.
Tuscarora Stories
The Tuscarora joined the Iroquois Confederacy in 1722. A version of the Great Law from a Tuscarora leader, Wallace "Mad Bear" Anderson, was published in 1987.
Influence on the United States Constitution
Some historians believe the Great Law of Peace greatly inspired the people who wrote the U.S. Constitution. These include important figures like Benjamin Franklin and James Madison.
They suggest that the way the Iroquois Confederacy was organized, with different nations working together, influenced the idea of a federal government in the U.S. Constitution. Ideas about individual freedom and dividing government powers might also have come from the Iroquois. Some scholars point out that symbols like the American bald eagle and a bundle of arrows (representing unity) were also adopted from Native American traditions.
Benjamin Franklin shared information about the Iroquois government with other colonists. He even suggested a plan for colonial unity, the Albany Plan, which some think was influenced by the Iroquois. In 1988, the U.S. Congress officially recognized the influence of the Iroquois Constitution on the American Constitution and Bill of Rights.
However, not all historians agree on how much influence the Iroquois had. Some point out differences between the two systems. For example, in the Iroquois system, decisions were made by male chiefs through agreement, not by majority vote. Also, women had a role in choosing chiefs. These historians argue that there isn't enough clear proof that the Iroquois directly shaped the U.S. Constitution. They suggest that many ideas came from European traditions instead.
Despite these debates, it's clear that early American colonists learned a lot from Native American societies. These interactions helped shape colonial life and even later movements, like the fight for women's voting rights.
Examples of the Great Law's Rules
Here are a few examples of the rules found in the Great Law of Peace:
- §37: Each nation will have one war chief. Their job is to carry messages for their leaders and to fight if there's an emergency. They won't take part in the main council meetings. Instead, they will watch and listen. If a chief makes a mistake, the war chief will listen to the people's complaints. They will also share warnings from the women with the chief. If people want to send messages to the League's chiefs, they should go through their nation's war chief. It's always the war chief's duty to bring the people's ideas and questions to the council.
- §58: Any chief or person who follows the laws of another group loses all their rights and claims within the Five Nations.
- §101: People chosen to organize Thanksgiving festivals must do everything needed for these events. The recognized Thanksgiving festivals include the Midwinter Thanksgiving, the Maple or Sugar-Making Thanksgiving, the Raspberry Thanksgiving, the Strawberry Thanksgiving, the Corn Planting Thanksgiving, the Corn Hoeing Thanksgiving, The Little Festival of Green Corn, the Great Festival of Ripe Corn, and the Complete Thanksgiving for the Harvest. Each nation will hold its festivals in its own Longhouses.
- §107: There will be a special sign that all people of the Five Nations will know. This sign shows that the owner of a house is away. A stick or pole leaning in a slanting position will be this sign. Anyone who doesn't live in the house, upon seeing this sign, must not enter the house, day or night. They should stay as far away as their business allows.
See also
In Spanish: Gran Ley de la Paz para niños
