Governments of the American Indians

Governments of the American Indians

American Indians have many systems for organizing their communities. Some native peoples lived in small independent groups. Tribes also formed large confederacies. The smallest native political unit was the individual. Individuals had complete freedom to make their own decisions. Next was the band or village. A band is a group of people of the same tribe who are closely connected. Often they’re connected by family ties. Bands might fish, hunt, and grow food together. Bands had leaders for different duties. Bands had one chief for war and a different one for peace.

Clans

• larger groups of distant relatives.

• Clans were often shared by many tribes.

Bands

• join together to form tribes.

• bands come together for major decisions, like going to war, choosing who to trade with, or choosing how to use natural resources.

Chiefdom

• a group of tribes under one leader, or chief.

• Some cultures passed authority down through the father’s side of the family.

• Many chiefs had to earn their right to lead their people.

Confederacies

• Tribes joining together to bring peace after war.

• Each group had its own leadership, but the leaders made big decisions in the Grand Council of the Chiefs.

• The Iroquois created a constitution called the Great Law of Peace. This agreement included a balance of power between bigger and smaller groups, a two-branch legislature, procedures for passing laws, and more.

Multiple Choice

Which had larger groups of distant relatives?

• clans

• bands

• cheifdoms

• confederacies

Multiple Choice

Which was a group of tribes under one leader?

• clan

• band

• cheifdom

• confederacy

Multiple Choice

Which came together for major decisions?

• clans

• bands

• cheifdoms

• confederacies

Multiple Choice

Which joined together to bring peace after war?

• bands

• clans

• cheifdoms

• confederacies