Final answer:
Colonial democratic movements often involved mass protests and uprisings seeking freedom and political power, differing from European countries with their top-down reforms and monarchical systems. Instances like the American Revolution contrast with India's non-violent approach to independence and the violent struggles in Algeria and Madagascar.
Step-by-step explanation:
Democratic movements in the colonies grew through a mix of negotiations, reforms, and at times, violent uprisings. Unlike some European countries where monarchy was deeply rooted and reforms were more top-down, colonial movements for democracy often involved the masses seeking greater individual freedom and political power. While European nations had their share of revolts and changes inspired by Enlightenment ideas, in the colonies, these demands frequently came to be represented by widespread popular protests, economic disagreements, and resistance to European control.
In the case of the United States, the American Revolution is a primary example of colonists demanding the same rights as British subjects, culminating in a violent uprising. European nations also faced democratic movements, but often they took a different shape or were spurred by other motivations, like socio-economic reforms rather than direct clashes over political autonomy.
In other colonies, especially in Africa and Asia, resistance to colonial rule sometimes followed paths of non-violent pressure, like in India, or through prolonged and violent struggles, as seen in Algeria and Madagascar. These movements for independence or democratic reforms were part of the broader waves of nationalism and desires for self-rule that swept across colonies ruled by European powers.