Which of the following is NOT a reason for the delay in the shift from government to self-rule after the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the delay in the shift from government to self-rule after the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

• A. None of the choices are correct.
• B. American colonists practiced rudimentary forms of self-government over the course of about 150 years.
• C. The colonial experience absorbed British models of government.
• D. The American colonists learned self-government from the French and Indians.

Answer: (D)

The choice that indicates a reason that is NOT a contributor to the delay in the transition from government to self-rule is grounded in the historical context of self-governance in America. While the experiences with French and Indigenous peoples did influence American political thought, they were not the primary sources from which colonists learned self-governance. Instead, the foundational elements of self-rule were forged largely through the long-standing British tradition and colonial experiences. The fact that American colonists practiced forms of self-government for many years prior to independence built a framework for governance that continued to evolve. As a result, the familiarity with and adaptation of British governmental models played a significant role in delaying an entirely new and independent self-rule. Thus, the learning from French and Indian sources, while impactful in a broader cultural sense, did not significantly shape the immediate governance strategies employed by the colonists.

The choice that indicates a reason that is NOT a contributor to the delay in the transition from government to self-rule is grounded in the historical context of self-governance in America. While the experiences with French and Indigenous peoples did influence American political thought, they were not the primary sources from which colonists learned self-governance. Instead, the foundational elements of self-rule were forged largely through the long-standing British tradition and colonial experiences.

The fact that American colonists practiced forms of self-government for many years prior to independence built a framework for governance that continued to evolve. As a result, the familiarity with and adaptation of British governmental models played a significant role in delaying an entirely new and independent self-rule. Thus, the learning from French and Indian sources, while impactful in a broader cultural sense, did not significantly shape the immediate governance strategies employed by the colonists.