How Did Britain's Policy Of Salutary Neglect Influence American Society

Kyle Gilmer
APUSH
Essay Question #1 For the period before 1750, Britain’s policy of salutary neglect influenced American society, despite that many British citizens opposed the policy. The policy increased legislation, commerce, and religion prior to 1750. Legislation was already discussed throughout regions of the new world. In New England, a convention was planned and delegated power to the town officials. The officials held meetings where they discussed the future of the colony and what is best for it. Similar, Virginia started a council called the House of Burgesses, which was a legislative body for the Virginia colony. A governor was appointed, but still representatives to be choose than in England. The reason many colonist traveled to the new world was to escape the monarch and Parliament in England. In addition, in the colonies, there was a policy of state rights which allowed giving power to the people. If salutary neglect wasn’t existed, England would have total control over America.
But because the policy is there, America’s legislation was able to thrive. Another successful point in American economics would be the commerce and industry, which didn’t follow the laws of the English system in America.
In England, around the 1600’s when the Glorious Revolution was around, commerce was really tough. But back in America, tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton, and manufacturing began to ascend to the top of the economy. While in Virginia, John Rolfe aided tobacco which became very popular in Virginia. Cotton thrived more down south while manufacturing found its way in the northeast. Each of these industries/crops provided America with a strong commercial economy that wouldn’t have been successful without salutary neglect. Without any navigational laws in effect, the United States had a huge economic takeover. The triangle trade route provided three continents with the goods/products they need to sustain their citizens, lower the rate of inflation, and boost the standard of living. There was also a culture thriving in other areas
also. Religion grew vastly with salutary neglect. America at the beginning was a place to practice religion freely. Puritans and Separatist would move to America just to practice religious freedom. Quakers were given freedom to practice religion in Pennsylvania. Maryland was the “Catholic Haven” which granted freedom of religion through the Act of Toleration. These freedoms were present within America because there were no “bullies” enforcing laws against religious freedom. During the “Great Awakening”, Edward and Whitefield began preaching which caused religion to be revived. The religious revivals stressed tolerance and unity, and the first movement that unified the colonists. Revivalism came from Penn, Hooker, Hutchinson, and many others who strived for religious tolerance. Salutary neglect did allow more religious freedom, and new ideas regarding government, economy, and religion. Without the policy of salutary neglect, monarchist from England could be in power over America today. Making the salutary neglect policy the push for America to increase nationalism, freedom, and pave the future for the lives of present and past generations.