"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers...". This is the beginning of the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. This document was unanimously passed by the thirteen colonies as a first attempt to free themselves of a repressive, exploitative government. This was the first widely accepted, formal document that suggested a new republican government. This new form of government would be founded in the collective rights of the people, based on their authority alone, and beheld to them. This was certainly not the first time that this form of government had been mentioned.
             The first major public writing, calling for a republican form of government was published in 1776 by Thomas Paine. "Common Sense" was printed at the outset of the American Revolution, and was an instant hit with almost all Americans. This was the first real attempt of the American colonies to break free of British rule, and fend for themselves. They had no real form of government, just a declaration stating that they didn't want the British to rule them and that they should be allowed to rule themselves. Pains publication seemed to state what many colonials were feeling at the time. Blaming king George III for the sufferings of the colonies.
             The declaration alone was not enough for the colonials to govern themselves. There was still much work to be done, and the British government was not going to let go of its colonies that easily. Most of the colonists had had enough of the British government imposing laws and infringing on their sovereignty. The declaration simply put into words what many Americans were feeling. After the declaration, the new United States had to decide what to do about their lack of government. The revolution was still in its infancy,...