Native Americans: the true founders of American Democracy.
When I was in school and learning of "the founding fathers," not once was I taught that American Indians did anything positive for America, other than giving us toboggans, maple syrup, popcorn, snow shoes and canoes. I was not taught - and I don't remember any of my children being taught - that Native people gave us something pretty damn amazing - DEMOCRACY.
In 1934 they knew that our constitution was based on Native American principles - and that the Improved Order of Red Men knew it, and sung its praises.
Mr Ruland... traced the history of the order of Red Men, which he described as "the oldest American fraternity." His prepared address at the Unknown Soldier's tomb follows:
"The oldest American fraternity desires to pay respect to the ideals of Americanism for which those who crossed the 3000-mile expanse of ocean made the supreme sacrifice upon the battlefields of Belgium and northern France. And so we place our tribute upon the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose eternal resting place represents that spirit of America which will never die. Like the phoenix of old, it ever rises, rejuvenated from the ashes of its own funeral pyre.
"We look back to the very beginnings of our nation, which were likewise the beginnings of our great fraternity. We look back to the days of the Sons of Liberty, the Boston tea party, the St Tamina society and the Order of Red Men. In the days of 1765 these men set in motion certain great impulses which were soon to be heard around the world, and a little later at Lexington, at Bunker Hill, at Concord and through the sacrifices on the snowy slopes of Valley Forge, were to create a new nation upon a new continent, nurtured in freedom, dedicated to the great principle of liberty and equality.
"It was in 1834 in the city of Baltimore, 100 years ago, when from these early beginnings, this great fraternity was founded, and so the very existence, the growth, and the prosperity of our country has been coeval with the existence, the growth and the prosperity of this great American fraternity. Why have we taken the name, "Improved Order of Red Men? Why, indeed, but to impress upon our membership, the great principle of Americanism, we emulate the customs and traditions of the aborigines of the American continent, who, 500 years ago, in the lake regions of central New York, brought forth upon this continent the first principle of democratic government known in the world, a great league for peace, or league of nations, known as the Iroquois league of the five, or six nations, as it has been variously called.
"Under this form of government, the aborigines attained their highest perfection, and under this government, the league maintained peace among all its tribes for generations at a time. The principles of the Iroquois Confederacy were lifted by Benjamin Franklin, and placed in the warp, the woof and fabric of that document known as our Federal Constitution: that great document which has stood the test of time, and has been such a great blessing to mankind. Down through all the years that have followed, this great American fraternity and this great nation have carried forward the torch of Americanism, of liberty, equality and freedom. - Source: 1934, Sep 15. Press and Sun Bulletin.
Even Benjamin Franklin himself stated, in 1751, that he was inspired by the six tribes of the Iroquois Nation, and wrote in a letter to James Parker: It would be a strange thing if Six Nations of ignorant savages should be capable of forming a scheme for such an union, and be able to execute it in such a manner as that it has subsisted ages and appears indissoluble; and yet that a like union should be impracticable for ten or a dozen English colonies, to whom it is more necessary and must be more advantageous, and who cannot be supposed to want an equal understanding of their interests.
Credit: Benjamin Franklin on the Iroquois League, in a letter to James Parker, 1751.
-- Source smithsoniansource.org
Now remember, our Declaration of Independence - that celebrated paper which championed equality for all men (well.. certain men.. no really all) mentioned the original owners of the land once, in this line: He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Yes, those merciless Indian savages who had the first true democracy, THOSE savages.
And though it is becoming more and more accepted that our entire constitution was based on the Iroquois Confederacy, American Indians were only mentioned twice in the actual constitution - most of which pertained to trade. And don't forget that the 14th amendment, when passed, specifically said that it did NOT apply to American Indians... and did not, until they were granted citizenship in 1924.
One of the best articles I've read on this topic is from Molly Larkin, published on July 1, 2014 -
The U.S. Constitution and the Great Law of Peace.
Larkin lists what's in The Great Law of Peace:
freedom of speech,
freedom of religion,
the right of women to participate in government,
separation of powers,
checks and balances within government.
a government “of the people, by the people and for the people,”
three branches of government: two houses and a grand counsel,
A Women’s Council, which is the Iroquois equivalent of our Supreme Court –settling disputes and judging legal violations.
The central idea underlying Iroquois political philosophy is that peace is the will of the Creator, and the ultimate spiritual goal and natural order among humans.
Sound familiar?
There are so many - so VERY many - articles that back this up, and I hope you'll click on the links below to explore the issue. Please, if you have kids - or teach kids - please bring this into the discussion. Kids need to know that this continents first people gave more to the people than lacrosse and squash. Our nation of the United States holds democracy as its highest principles - all the while referring to the people who inspired that democracy as merciless savages. That is important. It is one of the most important topics you can bring to your kids.
American History Myths Debunked: No Native Influence on Founding Fathers
Iroquois Confederacy, the blueprint behind the US Constitution
IROQUOIS CONSTITUTION: A FORERUNNER TO COLONISTS' DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES
American Indians and the Constitution
American Indians & The United States Constitution
In 1934 they knew that our constitution was based on Native American principles - and that the Improved Order of Red Men knew it, and sung its praises.
New Red Men's Head, Lays Wreath on Tomb -
Calls Order Oldest in America, and True to its Traditions
As a climax of the centennial session of the Improved Order of Red Men, held in Baltimore, Md, .. Arthur J Ruland of Binghamton, Great Incohonee, today addressed the fraternity's Order of Redeemer at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National cemetery. ....Mr Ruland... traced the history of the order of Red Men, which he described as "the oldest American fraternity." His prepared address at the Unknown Soldier's tomb follows:
"The oldest American fraternity desires to pay respect to the ideals of Americanism for which those who crossed the 3000-mile expanse of ocean made the supreme sacrifice upon the battlefields of Belgium and northern France. And so we place our tribute upon the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, whose eternal resting place represents that spirit of America which will never die. Like the phoenix of old, it ever rises, rejuvenated from the ashes of its own funeral pyre.
"We look back to the very beginnings of our nation, which were likewise the beginnings of our great fraternity. We look back to the days of the Sons of Liberty, the Boston tea party, the St Tamina society and the Order of Red Men. In the days of 1765 these men set in motion certain great impulses which were soon to be heard around the world, and a little later at Lexington, at Bunker Hill, at Concord and through the sacrifices on the snowy slopes of Valley Forge, were to create a new nation upon a new continent, nurtured in freedom, dedicated to the great principle of liberty and equality.
"It was in 1834 in the city of Baltimore, 100 years ago, when from these early beginnings, this great fraternity was founded, and so the very existence, the growth, and the prosperity of our country has been coeval with the existence, the growth and the prosperity of this great American fraternity. Why have we taken the name, "Improved Order of Red Men? Why, indeed, but to impress upon our membership, the great principle of Americanism, we emulate the customs and traditions of the aborigines of the American continent, who, 500 years ago, in the lake regions of central New York, brought forth upon this continent the first principle of democratic government known in the world, a great league for peace, or league of nations, known as the Iroquois league of the five, or six nations, as it has been variously called.
"Under this form of government, the aborigines attained their highest perfection, and under this government, the league maintained peace among all its tribes for generations at a time. The principles of the Iroquois Confederacy were lifted by Benjamin Franklin, and placed in the warp, the woof and fabric of that document known as our Federal Constitution: that great document which has stood the test of time, and has been such a great blessing to mankind. Down through all the years that have followed, this great American fraternity and this great nation have carried forward the torch of Americanism, of liberty, equality and freedom. - Source: 1934, Sep 15. Press and Sun Bulletin.
Even Benjamin Franklin himself stated, in 1751, that he was inspired by the six tribes of the Iroquois Nation, and wrote in a letter to James Parker: It would be a strange thing if Six Nations of ignorant savages should be capable of forming a scheme for such an union, and be able to execute it in such a manner as that it has subsisted ages and appears indissoluble; and yet that a like union should be impracticable for ten or a dozen English colonies, to whom it is more necessary and must be more advantageous, and who cannot be supposed to want an equal understanding of their interests.
Credit: Benjamin Franklin on the Iroquois League, in a letter to James Parker, 1751.
-- Source smithsoniansource.org
Now remember, our Declaration of Independence - that celebrated paper which championed equality for all men (well.. certain men.. no really all) mentioned the original owners of the land once, in this line: He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Yes, those merciless Indian savages who had the first true democracy, THOSE savages.
And though it is becoming more and more accepted that our entire constitution was based on the Iroquois Confederacy, American Indians were only mentioned twice in the actual constitution - most of which pertained to trade. And don't forget that the 14th amendment, when passed, specifically said that it did NOT apply to American Indians... and did not, until they were granted citizenship in 1924.
One of the best articles I've read on this topic is from Molly Larkin, published on July 1, 2014 -
The U.S. Constitution and the Great Law of Peace.
Larkin lists what's in The Great Law of Peace:
freedom of speech,
freedom of religion,
the right of women to participate in government,
separation of powers,
checks and balances within government.
a government “of the people, by the people and for the people,”
three branches of government: two houses and a grand counsel,
A Women’s Council, which is the Iroquois equivalent of our Supreme Court –settling disputes and judging legal violations.
The central idea underlying Iroquois political philosophy is that peace is the will of the Creator, and the ultimate spiritual goal and natural order among humans.
Sound familiar?
There are so many - so VERY many - articles that back this up, and I hope you'll click on the links below to explore the issue. Please, if you have kids - or teach kids - please bring this into the discussion. Kids need to know that this continents first people gave more to the people than lacrosse and squash. Our nation of the United States holds democracy as its highest principles - all the while referring to the people who inspired that democracy as merciless savages. That is important. It is one of the most important topics you can bring to your kids.
American History Myths Debunked: No Native Influence on Founding Fathers
Iroquois Confederacy, the blueprint behind the US Constitution
IROQUOIS CONSTITUTION: A FORERUNNER TO COLONISTS' DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES
American Indians and the Constitution
American Indians & The United States Constitution
