‘Forgotten Founders’: Iroquois, democracy, and the American Revolution

2012-10-11

Richard Moore

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rkm websitehttp://cyberjournal.org
___________________________________

THE GREAT LAW OF PEACE 
Article 24

The chiefs of the League of Five Nations shall be mentors of the people for all time. The thickness of their skin shall be seven spans, which is to say that they shall be proof against anger, offensive action, and criticism. Their hearts shall be full of peace and good will, and their minds filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the League. With endless patience, they shall carry out their duty. Their firmness shall be tempered with a tenderness for their people. Neither anger nor fury shall find lodging in their minds and all their words and actions shall be marked by calm deliberation. 

As translated in Akwesasne Notes, 1977




The following is a complete on-line reproduction, and is reprinted here with permission of the author. We are very grateful to Bruce Johansen for his generosity of spirit in allowing us to replicate this book. Hardcopy is available as a trade paperback for $9.95 from Harvard Common Press, 535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118.




F O R G O T T E N

F O U N D E R S 

By Bruce E. Johansen



Benjamin Franklin, the Iroquois 
and the Rationale for the 
American Revolution 

1 9 8 2



G a m b i t   I N C O R P O R A T E D,   Publishers

O F     I P S W I C H     M A S S A C H U S E T T S

First Printing



Copyright 1982 by Bruce E. Johansen 
All rights reserved including the right to 
reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form.



Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 

Johansen, Bruce E. (Bruce Elliott), 1950- 
        Forgotten founders

        Bibliography 
        Includes Index 
        1. Iroquois Indians — Tribal government   2.   Indians of North America — Tribal government   3.   Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790.   4.   United States — Politics and government — Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.   5.   United States — Politics and government — Revolution, 1775-1783. 
I.   Title. 
E99.I7J63                                 323.1’197                                 81-23726 
ISBN 0-87645-111-3                                                                 AACR2




Printed in the United States of America. 



For my parents,

and

for John Crazy Bear, a Seneca who breathed

life into the Iroquois’ Great Law of Peace for me


C O N T E N T S

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE   A Composite Culture

CHAPTER TWO   The Pre-Columbian Republic

CHAPTER THREE   “Our Indians Have Outdone the Romans”

CHAPTER FOUR   Such an Union

CHAPTER FIVE   Philosopher as Savage

CHAPTER SIX   Self-Evident Truths

AFTERWORD

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX 

Inside Book Jacket 

Book excerpts 


FROM THE BACK COVER:

THE GREAT LAW OF PEACE 
Article 24*


          The chiefs of the League of Five Nations shall be mentors of the people for all time. The thickness of their skin shall be seven spans, which is to say that they shall be proof against anger, offensive action, and criticism. Their hearts shall be full of peace and good will, and their minds filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the League. With endless patience, they shall carry out their duty. Their firmness shall be tempered with a tenderness for their people. Neither anger nor fury shall find lodging in their minds and all their words and actions shall be marked by calm deliberation. 

* As translated in Akwesasne Notes, 1977








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