Final answer:
The Iroquois Confederacy, before Hiawatha, was a complex society with established governance and social structures. After Hiawatha, the constitution they adopted influenced future American political systems. European contact led to major cultural and economic changes for the Iroquois.
Step-by-step explanation:
Description of the Iroquois Before and After Hiawatha, The Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee, which translates to "people of the longhouse," were a prominent confederacy composed of the Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, and Cayuga nations, and later joined by the Tuscarora tribe.
Before Hiawatha, the Iroquois Confederacy was already a sophisticated and established entity, with a societal structure that included a council of fifty sachems from each of the Five Nations. They owned permanent villages, engaged in farming, had their own social institutions, and created artwork reflecting their societal values.
However, after Hiawatha, the Iroquois developed a constitution with concepts of checks and balances and separation of power which significantly influenced the political thought of the future United States. The European colonists' arrival brought drastic changes; they forced different groups to fight against each other, disrupting local economies and trading partnerships.
By the early 1800s, most native peoples had migrated or were resettled, their economies changed, and their cultures profoundly affected. Items such as the carved moose antler comb depict Europeans, simulating the cultural exchange and impact of European contact.
During the American Revolution, the Iroquois Confederacy faced internal division, with some nations allying with the British and others with the Americans, illustrating their political significance in the region.