In 1744, leaders of the Iroquois Confederacy met with representatives of several British colonies to negotiate a treaty. One of the Native Americans, an Onondaga diplomat named Canassatego, pointed out that the colonies could learn from their alliance, which dated back hundreds of years.
"Our wise Forefathers established Union and Amity between the Five Nations; this has made us formidable, this has given us great weight and Authority with our Neighboring Nations," he said. "We are a powerful confederacy, and, by your observing the same Methods our wise Forefathers have taken, you will acquire fresh Strength and Power."
The speech was included in a collection printed by Benjamin Franklin, who later mused in a 1751 letter to a friend that it would be "a very strange Thing" if the six nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, were able to form a union and not "ten or a Dozen English Colonies." These are some of the facts cited by supporters of the Iroquois influence theory, which holds that the Native American alliance was, at least in part, an inspiration for the U.S. Constitution.
And so as we give thanks for the turkey and the corn this Thanksgiving, let's also take a moment to appreciate the early exchange of ideas that helped build the foundation of our democracy.
This is a preview of Ryan Teague Beckwith's latest article. Read the full column here.
