Both democracy and republic meant that the power to govern was held by the people rather than a monarch.Īt the same time, it’s true that there is nuance and difference between these words, according to their historical use and etymology: democracy comes from the Greek roots meaning “rule by the people,” and the most basic understanding of the word’s original meaning refers to the direct democracy of ancient Greece. In part because that context was clear to everyone involved in the American Revolution, these terms were used interchangeably in the late 1700s. ![]() This was the important distinction at the time of the founding of the United States, in direct contrast with the rule of a king, or monarchy, in Great Britain. The short answer is that democracy and republic are frequently used to mean the same thing: a government in which the people vote for their leaders. Is the United States a democracy or a republic? This is one of those “either/or” questions that seems like it should have a straightforward answer after all, two such different words must have two different definitions, right?
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