Original Site

The following is a complete on-line reproduction, and is reprinted here with permission of the author. We are very grateful to Bruce Johansen for his generosity of spirit in allowing us to replicate this book. Hardcopy is available as a trade paperback for $9.95 from Harvard Common Press, 535 Albany Street, Boston, MA   02118.



F O R G O T T E N

F O U N D E R S



By Bruce E. Johansen




Benjamin Franklin, the Iroquois
and the Rationale for the
American Revolution






1 9 8 2

G a m b i t   I N C O R P O R A T E D, Publishers

O F   I P S W I C H   M A S S A C H U S E T T S











First Printing

Copyright 1982 by Bruce E. Johansen
All rights reserved including the right to
reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Johansen, Bruce E. (Bruce Elliott), 1950-
        Forgotten founders

        Bibliography
        Includes Index
        1. Iroquois Indians -- Tribal government   2.   Indians of North America -- Tribal government   3.   Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790.   4.   United States -- Politics and government -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.   5.   United States -- Politics and government -- Revolution, 1775-1783.
1.   Title.
E99.I7J63                                 323.1'197                                 81-23726
ISBN 0-87645-111-3                                                                 AACR2

Printed in the United States of America.



















For my parents,

and

for John Crazy Bear, a Seneca who breathed

life into the Iroquois' Great Law of Peace for me






C O N T E N T S



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE   A Composite Culture

CHAPTER TWO   The Pre-Columbian Republic

CHAPTER THREE   "Our Indians Have Outdone the Romans"

CHAPTER FOUR   Such an Union

CHAPTER FIVE   Philosopher as Savage

CHAPTER SIX   Self-Evident Truths

AFTERWORD

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX