Final answer:
Democracy in the American colonies was evident due to the establishment of elected colonial assemblies with legislative powers. These assemblies reflected a burgeoning democratic spirit by allowing more men to vote and represent local interests, contrasting British virtual representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option : b
While governors were typically appointed by the king in royal colonies, the colonial assemblies were elected bodies with significant authority. These assemblies had the power to initiate legislation, control the budget, and were integral to the local government. They could vote on all taxes and expenditures, which included paying colonial officials and defense appropriations. The idea of self-government took root as these assemblies functioned with a degree of autonomy, often borne of necessity due to the logistical challenges of communicating with England and the distraction of European powers with wars.
By colonial standards, the ability to vote was more widespread in America than in England, primarily because of the broader distribution of land ownership. These assemblies were reflective of a more direct form of representation than that of the British Parliamentary system, which was based on the concept of virtual representation. This structure fostered an evolving democratic spirit among the colonists, who began to expect and demand a say in their governance, thus laying the foundation for what would become the United States' representative democracy.