Final answer:
The Iroquois League had three main powers: political organization through a council of sachems, military influence during alliances in various conflicts, and control over trade, especially in the lucrative fur trade with European colonizers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main powers of the Iroquois League, also known as the Haudenosaunee, included political organization, military alliances, and control over trade. Politically, the Iroquois League was led by sachems who were chosen from families designated to inherit these positions. Their council was comprised of fifty sachems from the united Five Nations. Secondly, the Iroquois League wielded significant military power, as seen during alliances made in conflicts such as the American Revolution and the fight for control over the fur trade. Lastly, the Iroquois maintained comprehensive control over trade, particularly the fur trade. This control was pivotal in their alliances with European settlers, as they became a primary trading partner, first with the Dutch and later with the English, influencing the regional economics significantly.Explanation in more than 100 words: Formed in the mid-16th century, the League consisted of the Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, and Cayuga, later joined by the Tuscarora. They created an organized political and military structure that had a pronounced impact on regional and later on colonial politics. Their decision-making council facilitated the management of internal and external affairs, including war policies. The League's military might was leveraged when making alliances during the American Revolution, reflecting their internal division on the matter. Trade-wise, they maintained significant influence in the Northeast, affecting territorial control and economic exchanges with European colonizers, with the fur trade being of particular importance.Conclusion: The Iroquois League was a powerful confederation with significant political, military, and economic powers that shaped their own destiny as well as played a substantial role in the colonial history of North America.