The Birth of American Democracy

The video explores the often-overlooked influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the development of democratic principles in the United States. It highlights how the Iroquois' system of governance, known as the Great Law of Peace, inspired the framers of the US Constitution. The Iroquois Confederacy, a union of tribes in New York, provided a model of democracy where each tribe had a voice, and major decisions were made collectively. The video also discusses historical events like the Albany Congress and the Continental Congress, where the Iroquois shared their ideas. Despite their significant impact, the Iroquois' contributions are not widely taught in US education, which often credits Ancient Greece as the sole origin of democracy.

What was the primary purpose of the Iroquois Confederacy's formation?

• To create a new language

• To establish trade routes

• To stop internal conflicts and unite against external threats

• To expand their territory

What was the Albany Plan of Union inspired by?

• The Mayflower Compact

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Magna Carta

• The Great Law of Peace

Which event in 1776 involved the Iroquois addressing the Continental Congress?

• The Philadelphia Convention

• The drafting of the US Constitution

• The Albany Congress

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

In what year did the US Senate acknowledge the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy?

• 1800

• 1776

• 1754

• 1988

Why might students in the US be taught that democracy stems from Greece rather than the Iroquois?

• The Iroquois influence was not acknowledged until later

• Greek democracy is older

• The US has stronger cultural ties to Greece

• The Iroquois Confederacy was not well-documented