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The Great Law of Peace is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on the purposes of the Haudenosaunee Great Law, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Civ.3.3-5. It prints 6 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 21 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

The Great Law of Peace

D2.Civ.3.3-5

NameDate

Read the text and answer the questions. Then choose the best answers.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

The Great Law of Peace

An information text written for this worksheet. The Great Law is an oral tradition, passed down by speaking, so this text retells some of its main ideas rather than quoting it. The Haudenosaunee, also called the Iroquois, are nations whose homelands are in what is now New York State and nearby lands. Haudenosaunee tradition tells that long ago their five nations were often at war with one another. A man known as the Peacemaker, helped by a leader named Hiawatha, carried a message of peace from nation to nation. The nations agreed to the Great Law of Peace. It set up a Grand Council, where chiefs from every nation meet to decide matters they share. Under the Great Law, decisions are talked over until the chiefs agree. Clan mothers choose the chiefs and can remove a chief who does not serve the people well. The symbol of the Great Law is a white pine, the Tree of Peace. Its roots spread in four directions so that other peoples could follow them to peace. The Haudenosaunee still follow the Great Law today.

  1. 1. What is the symbol of the Great Law?
  2. 2. Who carried the message of peace from nation to nation?
  3. 3. How is deciding by agreement different from deciding by a majority vote?
  4. 4. Why did the five nations agree to the Great Law of Peace?
2.Wampum belts made of shell beads were used to
  • A.Decorate Spanish missions
  • B.Help people remember agreements like the Great Law
  • C.Pay for train tickets
3.A rule that makes leaders talk until everyone agrees is meant to
  • A.Give one chief all the power
  • B.Make decisions happen faster
  • C.Make sure no nation is left out of a decision
4.Which is a purpose of almost every law, including the Great Law?
  • A.To make sure people never meet
  • B.To punish people whatever they do
  • C.To help people live together peacefully
5.The Onondaga Nation is called the keeper of the council fire. What does that mean?
  • A.The Onondaga never take part
  • B.The Grand Council meets on Onondaga land
  • C.The Onondaga start forest fires
6.Which word means a union of nations that keep some of their own powers?
  • A.Colony
  • B.Kingdom
  • C.Confederacy

LessonPrint · D2.Civ.3.3-5 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — The Great Law of Peace

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. A white pine, the Tree of Peace. 2. The Peacemaker, helped by Hiawatha. 3. Every chief must agree, so no nation is simply outvoted. 4. They were often at war with one another, and the Great Law brought peace.
  2. 2.Help people remember agreements like the Great Law
  3. 3.Make sure no nation is left out of a decision
  4. 4.To help people live together peacefully
  5. 5.The Grand Council meets on Onondaga land
  6. 6.Confederacy

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Civ.3.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.