<P> Modern republicanism is the guiding political philosophy of the United States . It has been a major part of American civic thought since its founding . It stresses liberty and unalienable individual rights as central values, making people sovereign as a whole, rejects monarchy, aristocracy and inherited political power, expects citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies corruption . American republicanism was founded and first practiced by the Founding Fathers in the 18th century . For them, according to one team of historians, "republicanism represented more than a particular form of government . It was a way of life, a core ideology, an uncompromising commitment to liberty, and a total rejection of aristocracy ." </P> <P> Republicanism was based on Ancient Greco - Roman, Renaissance, and English models and ideas . It formed the basis for the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Constitution (1787), the Bill of Rights, as well as the Gettysburg Address (1863). </P> <P> Republicanism is a type of democracy, but if protected by a Bill of Rights, may be distinguished from other forms of democracy as a Bill of Rights asserts that each individual has unalienable rights that cannot be voted away by a majority of voters, unless the other type of democracies are also protected by a Bill of Rights . Alexis de Tocqueville warned about the "tyranny of the majority" in a democracy, and suggested the courts should try to reverse the efforts of the majority of terminating the rights of an unpopular minority . </P> <P> The term "republicanism" is derived from the term "republic", but the two words have different meanings . A "republic" is a form of government (one without a hereditary ruling class); "republicanism" refers to the values of the citizens in a republic . </P>

How were the ideas of american republicanism expressed in the declaration of independence