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nydus/The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the StatePublic

This work examines the historical development of social institutions, including the family, private property, and the state, as products of human control over the environment and production. It critiques existing social structures by analyzing the evolution of human society through a socialist lens that emphasizes the role of class struggle.

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER III. THE IROQUOIS GENS.

by Indians that had not passed the lower stage of barbarism. This excludes only the Mexicans, New Mexicans and Peruvians.

The fundamental provisions of the league were:

  1. Eternal federation of the five consanguineous tribes on the basis of perfect equality and independence in all internal tribal matters. This consanguinity formed the true fundament of the league. Three of these tribes, called father tribes, were brothers to one another; the other two, also mutual brothers, were called son tribes. The three oldest gentes were represented by living members in all five tribes, and these members were all regarded as brothers. Three other gentes were still alive in three tribes, and all of their members called one another brothers. The common language, only modified by variations of dialect, was the expression and proof of their common descent.
  1. The official organ of the league was a federal council of fifty sachems, all equal in rank and prominence. This council had the supreme decision in all federal matters.
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