Final answer:
The roots of democracy were significantly planted during the Colonial Era in America, as early self-governance began to take shape and the Enlightenment philosophy influenced the emerging political systems, despite the practice of democracy being limited and contradictory at times.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the historical context provided, the correct answer would be C) The Colonial Era laid the foundations for democratic principles. Though not all aspects of democracy as we understand it today were in place, the Colonial Era in America saw the emergence of various practices and institutions that contributed to the development of representative government. As early as the 1600s, colonists began practicing limited forms of self-government, autonomy that was somewhat facilitated by the British policy of salutary neglect. Property ownership and tax payment were often prerequisites for voting, which limited full democratic participation but did start to establish the notion of a stakeholder society within these early forms of democracy.
The ethical and political philosophies of the Enlightenment, especially those of the Enlightenment Philosophers or Philosophes, were instrumental in shaping the democratic ideals that would eventually be enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. That said, these developments occurred alongside significant contradictions, such as the practice of slavery, which was prevalent among many of the founders. Additionally, it is important to note that other societies, such as the Igbo in eastern Nigeria, practiced forms of democracy independent of Western influence, challenging the idea that democracy was purely a Western invention.