During the 17th and early 18th centuries, the British government followed a policy of "salutary neglect" towards the American colonies. This meant that although the colonies were technically under British rule, the British government did not enforce many of the laws and regulations that it had put in place. The goal of this policy was to encourage economic growth and trade in the colonies, which would benefit both the colonies and Britain.
According to Eric Foner's "Give Me Liberty: An American History," salutary neglect was a deliberate policy choice by the British government. They hoped that by allowing the colonies to govern themselves and develop their own economies, they would be able to extract raw materials from the colonies and boost the
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The colonies were established for various reasons, including religious freedom, economic opportunities, and political freedom. The colonies were expected to provide raw materials for England's industries, and in return, England provided them with protection and a market for their goods. Initially, England tried to control the colonies by establishing strict laws and regulations, but this approach proved difficult to enforce due to the distance between England and the colonies.
In the early eighteenth century, England adopted a policy of salutary neglect. Salutary neglect was a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of the colonies. England allowed the colonies to govern themselves without direct interference from England. England's main goal was to extract raw materials from the colonies to boost the economy of England. The policy worked for over a century and allowed the colonies to grow and prosper.
Salutary neglect allowed the colonists to develop a strong sense of identity and unity and sense of independence and self-government. The colonists also developed a sense of loyalty to their colonies and to their fellow