What was the Great Law of Peace?

• A. A religious ritual practiced by one Haudenosaunee nation.
• B. A military alliance formed in the 1600s.
• C. A treaty created in 1470 governing the relationship among the five Haudenosaunee nations.
• D. A law code that applied only to trade disputes.

Answer: (C)

The Great Law of Peace is the political constitution and peacekeeping framework of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, created around 1470 to govern relations among the five nations.

It established how the confederacy would be run: decision-making by consensus, a Grand Council representing the member nations, and a system where clan mothers had a key role in selecting and guiding leaders. It codified peace, justice, and cooperative governance across the nations, not just rituals or military pacts. This broad, lasting framework is why it’s described as governing relations among the Haudenosaunee, rather than as a single ritual, a later military alliance, or a narrow trade-law code.