Republicanism is the guiding political
philosophy of the
United States. It has been a major part of American civic thought since its
founding. It stresses
liberty and
"unalienable" rights as central values, making people
sovereign as a whole, rejects aristocracy and inherited political power, expects citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies
corruption. American republicanism was founded and first practiced by the
Founding Fathers in the 18th century. For them, according to one team of historians, "republicanism represented more than a particular form of government. It was a way of life, a core ideology, an uncompromising commitment to liberty, and a total rejection of aristocracy."