The Colonists drew inspiration from various sources, including the English system of government, the Iroquois Confederacy, and the Magna Carta. However, the English system of government was the first and main source of inspiration for the Colonists.
The English system of government was based on the idea of representative democracy, in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This system was in contrast to the monarchical systems of government that were common in Europe at the time. The Colonists were inspired by the English system of government because it allowed for a greater degree of self-government and individual liberty.
The English system of government had a number of specific features that the Colonists adopted in their own governments. These features included:
* A bicameral legislature, consisting of a lower house (the House of Representatives) and an upper house (the Senate)
* A separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
* A system of checks and balances, in which each branch of government has the ability to limit the power of the other branches
The Colonists adapted these features of the English system of government to their own circumstances and needs. For example, they created a unicameral legislature (the General Assembly) instead of a bicameral legislature, and they gave the governor more power than the king had in England. However, the basic principles of the English system of government were preserved in the governments of the American colonies.