The American colonists created a republican form of government when they formed the United States of America. They rejected monarchy and aristocracy in favor of a government based on the consent of the governed, where power resided in elected representatives and officials rather than being inherited or appointed by a monarch.
Colonial Government Background
The colonial governments prior to independence were largely self-governing with elected assemblies, but they still operated under British control, with governors appointed by the Crown or proprietors. These colonial experiences influenced the formation of new state constitutions during and after the American Revolution, which were republican in nature, emphasizing popular sovereignty and elected legislatures.
Formation of the United States Government
During the Revolutionary War, colonial governments were replaced by new state constitutions establishing republican governments. The Continental Congress operated as a provisional government, and after independence, the Articles of Confederation created a weak central government keeping states sovereign. Later, the United States Constitution of 1789 established a federal republic with a system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and an elected president, Congress, and judiciary.
The Nature of the Government
The government created was a republic — a representative form of government with elected officials. The Framers were influenced by republican ideals, focusing on limiting the concentration of power and protecting individual rights, combining elements of democracy with protections against tyranny by the majority.
In summary, the American colonists created a republican government with elected representation, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty as the foundation of the United States of America. This system replaced colonial monarchy-based rule with a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
