The Plains, Iroquois and Algonquian Cultures

Study Notes

The Iroquois lived in communal dwellings known as longhouses.
Longhouses were rectangular structures, typically 100 feet long or longer, made of wood poles and bark, with a thatched roof.
Each family had their own section within the longhouse, providing both privacy and communal living.

The Iroquois cultivated "the three sisters": corn, beans, and squash.
Corn provided a staple food source, beans added nitrogen to the soil, and squash provided ground cover to suppress weeds.
This agricultural system was highly sustainable and allowed for large-scale food production.

The Iroquois had a complex political system based on a confederacy of five nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca.
Each nation had its own council, and representatives from each nation formed a Grand Council.
Decisions were made through consensus, with each nation having an equal voice.

The Iroquois used deerskin to create clothing, blankets, and moccasins.
They also used fur, feathers, and other natural materials for adornment and ceremonial purposes.

The Algonquian people primarily lived in wigwams, dome-shaped structures made from bent saplings covered with bark or animal hides.
Wigwams were portable and adaptable to different environments, allowing for seasonal migration.

The Algonquian people occupied a vast territory, stretching from the Atlantic coast of Canada to the Great Lakes region.
They were known for their adaptability to diverse environments, from forests and woodlands to coastal areas.

The Algonquian people relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering for food.
Game such as deer, bear, and rabbit were staples, along with fish from rivers and lakes.
They also gathered berries, nuts, and roots.

Algonquian groups were generally small, ranging from a few families to several hundred people.
They lived in bands, which were organized by kinship and territory.
This allowed for flexibility and adaptation to changing environments.Iroquois

Iroquios
- Lived in longhouses
- Planted all crops in same field
- Animal hides for clothing
- League of 5 tribes
- Main crop: corn, beans, and squash
- Had wampum beads
- Had a form of government
Algonquian
- Lived in wigwams
- Lived on the coast of coastal plains
- Had to prove themselves to get married
- Lived off of fish
- Made clothes
- Relied mostly on hunting
- 1-20 people per group
- Some groups had 2 chiefs
The Plains

buffalo were the main sorce of food

The plains never let anything go to waste

the hooves of the

buffalo created glue and they used the stomache for a bag

the buffalo was very important

these people were farmers and/or hunters

they're ways of lifes were different depending where they live

They used Tepees

great plains of ioa missuri and the zoo hunted deerelk and buffalo