salutary neglect

Even as their first colonies were developing, Britain did not exercise as much control over them, as other nations had in their colonies. This occurred even more so as the colonies continued to develop. During this time Britain chose to pursue political and military undertaking away from the colonies, taking their attention off of the settlers in the Americas. This policy, later named salutary neglect by Edmund Burke, allowed the colonies to experience freedom from the control of England, leading them to develop the beginnings of their own representative assemblies, trade free of restraint from the mother country, and religious tolerance.

Before England had established any colonies in the Americas, Spain and Portugal had done so. Spain and Portugal ruled their colonies in an authoritarian fashion, leaving no room for the settlers to have any control over themselves. The settlers had little to no representation in government and no say in public policy. This is what caused England’s colonies to differ from the others. The settlers in England’s colonies were partially self-governed, and had many freedoms that other settlers did not. One reason for this was that many of the English colonies began as private corporate enter

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Other countries never allowed religious tolerance in their colonies, forcing all inhabitants of the colonies to practice the chosen religion of the king or mother country. The legislature gave each shareholder and qualified settler a vote. In Maryland there was a toleration policy enacted in 1649 which granted freedom of worship to the Catholics.

The English policy of salutary neglect greatly influenced American society in many ways. prises and remained free from direct control by the English government for some time. The British also discouraged the colonies to produce materials that would compete with English goods, but did not enforce the policy to any great extent. Another example of religious freedom was the colony of Rhode Island, founded by Roger Williams. As seen time and time again, Britain’s salutary neglect allowed the colonies to govern themselves to an extent and aided in the development of a democratic government, as the colonist voted for their representatives and on certain public issues. Lastly it laid the foundation for religious toleration and diversity in the Americas. Its greatest affect on religion would be the creation of religious toleration and diversity. Secondly many of the English settlers had participated in government at home and by virtue of the fact carried the tradition with them to America. Again England’s salutary neglect influenced the development of the colonies, this time by promoting trade, free of government interference. This salutary neglect would go on to influence the development of society in America in several ways. The English also in their colonies would support trade with the mother country but with salutary neglect didn’t keep as strict of a stand.

Some historians believe that salutary neglect did not play as big of a role in the English colonies.

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