Final answer:
The colonists had a significant degree of autonomy, which later influenced their decision to adopt republicanism as their government form after gaining independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonists experienced a relatively large degree of autonomy to rule themselves. This is evident in the political climate of the colonies where despite the presence of British-appointed governors, the colonial assemblies often expanded their power and effectively governed themselves.
The situation was bolstered by British policies of salutary neglect that allowed for self-governance practices to flourish, leading colonists to expect control over their own affairs, and cementing the foundation for the eventual shift towards republicanism after the war for independence.
The answer to the student's question is C) Autonomy. After the American Revolution, the revolutionaries turned to A) republicanism as the form of government. This underscored the colonists' desire and capacity for self-governance that had been cultivated over the years under salutary neglect and their own political activism within the colonial assemblies.