Final answer:
The United States initially established a confederation under the Articles of Confederation after the Revolutionary War, but issues with this system led to the development of the U.S. Constitution and the creation of a federal republic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Establishment of Government After the Revolutionary War
Immediately after the Revolutionary War, the form of government established in the United States was a confederation. This system was laid out in the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation's first constitution. It was a 'firm league of friendship' among states, with each state retaining its sovereignty and independence. Over time, as states began to adopt constitutions during the war, they created republics over monarchies or democracies. This choice reflected a firm departure from the monarchical system they had revolted against, and a resistance against forming a strong centralized government that might abuse its power as the British crown was perceived to have done.
After declaring independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, the American colonists turned away from monarchy, celebrating their English liberties while seeking to establish their own forms of governance that protected these liberties. The Articles of Confederation created a loose national government that could conduct foreign affairs and declare war but lacked strong powers such as taxation or regulation of commerce. It quickly became clear that this initially chosen form of government had its flaws, leading to the development of the Constitution that created a more robust federal republic.