What is the primary purpose of the Iroquois Confederacy?

The primary purpose of the Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee, was indeed to unify tribes against external threats. Established in the late 16th century, the confederacy was a sophisticated political alliance among several tribes, including the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca, which aimed to create a collective defense mechanism. This unity allowed them to collaborate on military matters and negotiate peacefully with other nations, including European settlers.

By forming this powerful alliance, the Iroquois were able to better protect their territories from encroachment and aggression, particularly from rival tribes and later European colonial powers. This cooperative governance model laid the foundation for what would become one of the earliest forms of representative democracy in North America, influencing both Indigenous governance and the democratic ideals of the United States.

The focus on unification in response to threats set the Iroquois Confederacy apart from the other choices, which do not accurately capture the primary motivation behind the alliance. While agriculture and trade were important components of life among the Iroquois, the urgent need for security and mutual defense in a changing landscape is what primarily drove the formation of this significant political entity.