Political Leadership Among North American Indians

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Political leadership among North American Indians was largely based on psychological rather than on institutional or formal mechanisms. The greatest leaders arose in the struggle with the whites for the continent. Their motives were both economic and personal. The most important personality traits of the great leaders were: striking appearance, intellectual ability, positive emotional traits such as kindness, affability, etc., dignity, moral courage, oratorical ability, courage, pride, military prowess, ambition, loyalty, diplomacy, personal magnetism, etc. The techniques used by the leaders included: the challenge, the use of epithets, ridicule, sarcasm, etc., the use of calumny and slander, the use of flattery, conspicuous dress, force, threats, magic, or oratory. The characteristics and techniques of leaders were largely determined by the nature of Indian human nature.