Power Structures

Definition

Power structures refer to the systems and hierarchies that determine authority, control, and decision-making within a society or organization. In the context of European settlers and Native American tribes, power structures referred to the social and political organizations that governed Native American communities.

Related terms

Confederacy: A confederacy refers to an alliance or union between multiple Native American tribes. These confederacies often had their own power structures, making it more challenging for European settlers to impose their authority over them.

Clan: A clan is a kinship group within a tribe that shares common ancestry. Within clans, there were often specific roles and responsibilities assigned to individuals based on their lineage.

Council: Councils were important decision-making bodies within Native American tribes. They consisted of influential leaders who discussed matters affecting the community as a whole and played a key role in shaping power structures.