Richard Aquila

By titling his book “The Iroquois Restoration”, Richard Aquila alerts the reader not only to the Iroquois diplomacy that led to their resurgence in the first half of the eighteenth century, but also to two caveats which the reader must keep in mind. First, the Iroquois Confederacy, understood as some kind of ‘empire’, is more myth than reality. The Five Nations often acted independently of each other, and it is difficult to say how much of their actions came from decisions of the Confederacy and how much came from decisions of local sachems. Secondly, the restoration of 1701-1754 was partly planned, and partly brought about by circumstance. Therefore, it is very difficult indeed to write about the ‘Iroquois Restoration’, since one can neither conceive of the Iroquois as a single entity, nor treat the restoration program as diplomatic genius. Aquila attempts to walk these fine lines as he narrates the diplomacy of the Iroquois.

After warring with the French and her Indian allies for twenty years, the Iroquois secured peace in 1701. The long war had taken its toll on the Iroquois Confederacy, and the Iroquois found themselves between the English and the French, both geographically and politically. Despite this difficult position, the Iroquois were able to gain control over lands, tribes, and economic trade. Furthermore, they rose to a position of power strong enough to be a serious threat to the English and the French.

This resurgence in power came about through a four-part program of the Iroquois Confederacy. This program included neutrality towards the British and the French; improved relations with western and northern tribes; improved relations with Pennsylvania government, which helped the Iroquois secure power over Pennsylvania tribes; and continued warfare with the Virginia and Carolina tribes. Aquila investigates each of these parts in detail.

Although Aquila intends to tread carefully when referring to the Iroquois or the restoration, ultimately he fails to do so. Too often he treats the Iroquois as a single entity and the restoration program as a well-planned diplomatic achievement. The generalizations about the Iroquois leave the reader wanting more details; for instance, one may certainly question who the architects of this restoration program were. Although the Iroquois neutrality towards the French and English is only part of the restoration effort, the reader learns more about the French and English involved in diplomatic relations with the Iroquois than about the Iroquois themselves or members of other tribes that interacted with the Iroquois.

While Aquila does provide a useful overview of the Iroquois Restoration, some of the details provided are inaccurate. For instance, Aquila provides an incorrect account of the Walking Purchase Treaty, in which the Delaware (Lenni Lenape) of Eastern Pennsylvania lost most of their lands. Also, too little is said about the role of missionary activity among the tribes of the Eastern Woodlands. Aquila mentions that the Delaware moved to the Ohio River Valley, but he asserts that this occurred because the Delaware “resented Iroquois influence, so they moved to Ohio, where they were out of reach of the Confederacy’s meddling” (p. 239). However, most of the Delaware moved to the Ohio River Valley because the Moravian missions were relocated there. The missionaries chose this move to retreat from white settlers and other Indians; therefore, Aquila’s account is misleading.

Overall, Aquila’s book provides a helpful overview of the steps the Iroquois took to regain power they had lost during the twenty years of fighting prior to 1701. However, Aquila implies that a brilliant strategy was being employed by the Iroquois, but the evidence provided does not support this, and even Aquila himself warns against that interpretation. Also, some factual errors mar this work. Nonetheless, Aquila’s book is a step in the right direction in the study of the Iroquois, but further steps must be taken.… (mais)