LESSON 4: Interpreting History

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 form 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 tenets of the Great Law of Peace?
• What are the central tenets of the US Constitution?
• How are the Great Law of Peace and the US Constitution different?
• How are the Great Law of Peace and the US Constitution similar?

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, sudents 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

• Unit Vocabulary
• 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.

VII. Activity for Lesson Four