Ken Burns Documentary Ignites Debate Over Iroquois Influence on American Union

A new Ken Burns documentary on the American Revolution has sparked considerable discussion and debate, particularly concerning its portrayal of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy's potential influence on early American political thought. The documentary, which premiered recently, aims to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into the narrative of the nation's founding, leading to varied reactions from historians and the public.

The online discourse was highlighted by a tweet from "TheHistoryOfTheAmericans," which offered "brief thoughts on the 'Iroquois inspiration' theory hinted at, but not actually stated, in Ken Burns' new documentary on the American Revolution." The tweet also specifically mentioned historian William Hogeland. The documentary suggests that the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a sophisticated union predating the United States, offered a model for colonial unity.

Specifically, the film references a 1744 speech by Canassatego, an Onondaga leader, encouraging colonial union, and Benjamin Franklin's subsequent proposal of the Albany Plan of Union in 1754. While a series director clarified the film does not claim the U.S. Constitution was directly inspired, it emphasizes Franklin's awareness of and potential inspiration from the Iroquois system. Franklin himself noted the Iroquois' successful confederacy in a 1751 letter, questioning why the colonies struggled to achieve similar unity.

Historian William Hogeland, whose work often delves into the American founding, has weighed in on the controversy, noting the "heated online argument" surrounding the documentary's opening. Writing on his Substack, Hogeland analyzed the "culture war" aspects of the debate, critiquing both those who dismiss any Indigenous influence outright and those who overstate direct constitutional copying. He emphasizes that the documentary carefully frames the influence around Franklin's earlier Albany Plan rather than a direct blueprint for the Constitution.

The enduring debate underscores differing interpretations of American history and the role of Indigenous peoples in shaping colonial and early national ideas. While some scholars point to the Iroquois Confederacy as a significant conceptual influence on federalism and union, others argue that European Enlightenment ideals were the primary drivers of the U.S. Constitution. The documentary's approach has reignited this long-standing discussion, prompting a re-examination of foundational narratives and the complex interplay of influences during the revolutionary era.