I. Purpose
Working as historians, students will examine the Great Law of Peace and the US Constitution. During this lesson, students will compare and contrast these two documents and draw their own conclusions about the influence of the Iroquois on the Founding Father's ideas about democracy.
II. Objectives
- Students will read and interpret excerpts from the Great Law of Peace.
- Students will read and interpret excerpts from the US Constitution.
- Students will compare and contrast the Great Law of Peace and the US Constitution.
III. Essential Questions
- What are the central ideas of the Great Law of Peace?
- What are the central ideas of the US Constitution?
- How do the Great Law of Peace and the US Constitution differ from each other?
- How are the Great Law of Peace and the US Constitution similar to each other?
IV. Rationale
Students will synthesize what they have learned about the Great Law of Peace and the US Constitution. By doing this side-by-side comparison, students will view documentary evidence of the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy's Great Law of Peace on the development of the US Constitution.
V. Student's Prior Knowledge
- An understanding of the dynamics at the Albany Congress.
- Familiarity with aspects of the US Constitution.
VI. Materials
- A copy of the Great Law of Peace
- A copy of the US Constitution
- Note-taking guide
- Students will need writing materials to document their position.