2. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy Inspired U.S. Democracy
The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy shaped the very foundation of American democracy. Their Great Law of Peace established a sophisticated system of representative government, consensus-building, and checks and balances—centuries before similar European models. Founding Fathers like Benjamin Franklin openly admired and learned from this structure. For more on this pivotal influence, visit the National Museum of the American Indian.
