Salutary neglect

During the middle-years of the development of the colonies, Britain let go of their colonial possessions, and let the colonies be a freestanding nation for a period of time in order for Britain to pursue political and military ventures elsewhere. This policy of salutary neglect gave the colonists a taste of freedom from the crown, and it gave the colonies a warming-up period to start their own legislature, commercial transactions, and religious affiliations. The colonies …

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