Final answer:
The Founding Fathers chose a republican government to avoid the issues of British monarchical rule, ensuring that power was derived from the people and advocating limited federal authority. This approach was enshrined in key documents and enunciated by leaders like Madison and Jefferson, reflecting the values of the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Founding Fathers chose a republican style of government to address their concerns with the British monarchy by ensuring that political power came from the people, not a singular monarch. By drafting documents such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights and emphasizing liberties, they aimed to create a government for the people and by the people. J
ames Madison and Thomas Jefferson's vision of republicanism included a belief that a republican government should be limited in scope, supporting primarily agricultural interests, with a strong emphasis on states' rights. The aim was to avoid concentration of power which could lead to oppression, resembling the monarchy they opposed. The Federalist Papers, particularly Federalist #39, described the ideal republican government as one that gets its powers directly or indirectly from the people but remains limited by the strict construction of the Constitution to protect citizens' rights.
The debate between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans centered on the strength and role of the federal government, the former advocating for a stronger central authority and the latter for a more localized and limited federal power, fearing a too-strong government could mirror monarchical tyranny. Ultimately, the republican model was adopted because it aligned with the ideals fought for during the American Revolution and aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of self-governance.