Question

c. salutary neglect
america was far away from britain, across the atlantic ocean. it was hard for the british government to control the american colonies. except for trade, britain generally left america alone, and this helped the american colonists. the british policy of allowing the colonies to govern themselves - which, in turn, helped the colonists - is called salutary neglect. under this policy,

• colonists learned to make their own laws, which means they had a form of self - government
• colonists saw themselves as american, not english
• colonists acted independently of britain, like choosing who they wished to trade with.

however, around 1650, the british government passed a group of laws called the navigation acts. these laws said that only british ships could carry goods to and from the colonies. ships from other countries had to pay taxes to britain. so the colonies had to pay more money for goods from other countries. fortunately for the colonists, britain did not enforce the navigation acts because of salutary neglect. in addition, some american merchants participated in smuggling, or illegally bringing goods from other countries into the colonies. this way they could avoid paying taxes to britain.

1. what is salutary neglect?
2. how did salutary neglect benefit (help) the american colonies?
3. what did the navigation acts say?
4. why were the navigation acts ineffective? (2 reasons)

Explanation:

1. Salutary neglect was the British policy of allowing the American colonies to govern themselves, mainly due to the distance making control difficult and with the exception of trade, Britain left America alone.
2. It benefited the American colonies as they learned self - government, developed a distinct American identity, and could act independently in trade.
3. The Navigation Acts stated that only British ships could carry goods to and from the colonies, and ships from other countries had to pay taxes to Britain for goods to the colonies.
4. The Navigation Acts were ineffective because of salutary neglect (Britain did not enforce them) and American merchants engaged in smuggling to avoid paying taxes to Britain.

Answer:

1. Salutary neglect was the British policy of allowing the American colonies to govern themselves, with Britain generally leaving America alone except for trade.
2. Colonies learned self - government, developed an American identity, and could trade independently.
3. Only British ships could carry goods to and from the colonies, and non - British ships had to pay taxes to Britain for goods to the colonies.
4. Due to salutary neglect (non - enforcement by Britain) and American merchants' smuggling activities.