Republican Governments
One of the major effects of the American Revolution is the Republican Government. An American might look back on the revolutionary events that had transpired in the preceding three decades after the triumphant conclusion of the Revolutionary War with Great Britain. Throughout the aftermath of the American Revolution, truly democratic politics became conceivable in the former colonies. The establishment of written state constitutions in 1776 and 1777 was, in reality, the most important immediate consequence of America proclaiming independence.
These new state constitutions were founded on the concept of "popular sovereignty," which means that the government's power and authority are drawn from the people. Many of these constitutions included a declaration or "bill" of rights to safeguard individual rights. Furthermore, liberal republicanism adopted the principles of liberty, equality among individuals, and anti-corruption as essential beliefs. New state constitutions frequently expanded the vote to include universal male suffrage without regard to property. Along with the new constitutions, the criminal code was overhauled, removing such heinous corporal penalties as ear-cropping and branding, which were still common in Britain.
Americans continued to experiment with how to rule themselves after gaining independence under the Articles of Confederation. Over time, certain powerful groups—not all of whom shared the emotions of all Americans—found the Confederate government to be insufficient. Representatives from various organizations gathered in Philadelphia to discuss the possibility of forming yet another, more modern form of governance. As a consequence, a new constitution was drafted. However, not all Americans accepted the new Constitution, and the document's passage resulted in several controversies. Despite this, the Constitution was approved, and with a new constitution in place, Americans once again looked to George Washington for leadership, this time as the new republic's President.
