The Iroquois had a very interesting government. They prefered to be called the Haundenosaunee. The Haudenosaunee was made of five origanal tribes: the Mohawk, Onandaga, Oneida, Seneca, and the Cayuga. One tribe was added in the 1700's called the Tuscarora. Hiawatha brought them together to strengthen against their enemies. The Haudenosaunee had an early form of democracy with a constitution. Some of America's laws are similar to the Haudenosaunee. Their constitution influenced America's. The Great Council was involved with the constitution. Each tribe had their own council along with representatives to represent them at the Great Council.These representatives were chosen by the "clan mothers". The chiefs,called sachems, were always men. The chiefs listened to what the women told them for fear of losing their positions.The clans were matrilineal. Matrilineal means that the children's ancestors were traced through their mother's side of the family. The women owned the land and they decided things about farming, family, and property. The men decided things about war, trading, and hunting. The chiefs gave surplus possessions and contraband away (objects from war),and presents from treaties.
