11/24/2021 | 3m 6s | Video has closed captioning.
Long before Europeans arrived in the U.S., Native Americans had sophisticated governments. In this episode, we explore the societies of three nations: The Iroquois, Muscogee, and Pueblo. These tribes have upheld progressive principles for centuries: from matriarchal leadership to rights for ex-convicts, and the founding fathers used these ideas when creating the U.S. government.
Aired: 11/24/21
- The familiar story of American history usually begins with Christopher Columbus, the pilgrims, and then the colonies.
But this is not where the story should begin.
Entire nations of Native American tribes, millions of people, have been governing themselves long before any European stepped foot on American soil.
And you may be surprised by the ways their societies mirror our current system of government.
One of the most well-documented Native American government structures is that of the Iroquois, a Confederacy of six tribes that reside in what is now upstate New York.
At various times these tribes were at war with one another.
The Great Law of Peace formerly brought them all together and has been described as the longest lasting treaty in North America.
The Iroquois had a largely matriarchal society, meaning the various clans that made up the tribes were led by a woman.
Women could not serve on the council of 50, a parliament made up of representatives from each of the member tribes.
However, in some clans, the matron nominated the Secam, or tribal leader, and held the power to remove leaders who were found guilty of misconduct.
The Iroquois valued debate and discussion when creating their laws, and some believe that the US Congress's custom of allowing speakers to finish their thoughts without interruption follow the example of how the Iroquois conducted business.
Another key component of Iroquois life that matches the United States is the concept of federalism, which combines a central government with regional self governments.
The Muscogee Nation, also known as the Creek Nation, was a league of many tribes in what became the Southeastern United States, and at one point was made up of over 20,000 people.
The Muscogee Nation had a well-developed judicial system.
Punishments depended not only on the crime, but on the character of the defendant and the circumstances of the crime.
Once carried out, sentences absolved those convicted and fully restored them to the community.
The Muscogee prioritized the needs of the community over the needs of the individual.
This stands in stark contrast to modern American society where the rights of an individual tend to be much more highly valued.
The Pueblos are part of a cultural group that has inhabited the Southwestern United States for thousands of years.
What sets them apart from other nations we've discussed and from modern American politics is that Pueblo society was a theocracy, meaning the head priest was also the chief and left no separation between religion and government.
The leader of Pueblo society was referred to as the Casique.
They ruled by consensus, giving formal approval to ideas already gaining traction in the larger community.
Much like the presidential cabinet.
The Casique had several assistants, including military and agricultural advisors, to take of day-to-day matters.
This left him free to guide policy affecting the nation as a whole.
These are just a few of the nations that made up this land long before in any European arrived on its soil.
What's more, some believed that founding fathers used their knowledge of native governments when helping to write the constitution of the new nation known as the United States of America.
