How did the policy of salutary neglect lead the colonies toward revolution?

1)The policy of Salutary neglect ultimately paved way for the American Revolution. Discuss.(250 words)

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Why this question

American Revolution is an important part of world history and salutary neglect by the British is implicated as one of the main reasons which led to the American Revolution. The question is related to the GS 1 syllabus under the following heading-

Events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society.

Key demand of the question

The question wants us to deliberate upon the meaning, and role of the policy of Salutary neglect adopted by the British, in paving way for the American Revolution.

Directive word

Discuss- the question directs us to write in detail about the policy of Salutary neglect adopted by the British- describe the policy in detail and then discuss to what extent did this policy influence the American Revolution.

Structure of the answer

Introduction– explain the meaning of the term salutary neglect.

Body-

1. Give examples of British policies to show that salutary neglect was a deliberate policy design. e.g Prime Minister Robert Walpole’s statement, slack enforcement of the Navigation Acts etc.
2. Explain how the end of the policy of salutary neglect was a contributing factor of American Revolution. Give an account of the successive British policies (Stamp act, Sugar act, Intolerable acts etc) which were contradictory to the earlier salutary neglect, and explain how they lead to greater public resentment and ultimately to the American Revolution.

Conclusion- mention the different perspectives (American vs British) of interpreting the Salutary neglect policy and give a personal opinion on the issue.

Salutary Neglect was an unwritten policy where British officials allowed merchants in Colonial America to break shipping laws. The policy allowed colonial merchants to flourish and also benefited British merchants. However, when the British Government tried to reverse the policy led to unrest and violence that contributed to the American Revolution and the War for Independence.

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Salutary Neglect Definition

The definition of Salutary Neglect in United States history is an unofficial policy of the British government under which trade laws and government supervision were not strictly enforced on the American Colonies – they were neglected – by the government and customs officials. The word “salutary” means “beneficial” and is usually used to refer to something unpleasant or unwelcome. Salutary Neglect is sometimes called “Beneficial Neglect,” which makes it a little clearer that Britain’s policy to neglect the enforcement of laws was actually helpful to the colonies.

Salutary Neglect Summary

The policy of Salutary Neglect allowed the British Colonies along the east coast of North America to avoid compliance with trade laws — specifically the Acts of Trade and Navigation — and encouraged them to stay loyal to the King and Parliament. At the same time, it allowed British officials to concentrate on affairs in Europe as the British Empire expanded.

The idea of Salutary Neglect can also be viewed as something that happened simply because Britain was 3,000 miles — literally an ocean away — from the colonies. There was no real political or military structure in place to enforce many of the laws that Parliament passed. For the most part, Britain simply hoped the loyal subjects of the King or Queen would comply with his or her wishes.

Regardless, Salutary Neglect played a key role in the growth and development of the American Colonies until the passage of the Sugar Act in 1764.

Robert Walpole and Salutary Neglect

In 1721, Robert Walpole was named First Lord of the Treasury and also became the first Prime Minister of Britain. Walpole sought to expand the British Empire through trade and understood that American merchants were generating profits that benefitted Britain, even if they were doing so through illegal means.

Robert Walpole was the first Prime Minister of Britain. Image Source: Wikipedia.

Another member of the King’s cabinet, Thomas Pelham-Holles, the Duke of Newcastle, supported Walpole’s vision and helped shape Britain’s policy toward the American Colonies. However, Britain still failed to establish significant methods of collecting duties and enforcing the laws in the colonies.

Salutary Neglect is often looked at as a policy that Walpole supported and promoted. However, he tried to maintain some semblance of control over the colonies by filling offices with people he knew. However, many of them ended up taking a passive role in colonial affairs, which allowed colonial assemblies to become more organized and important to the process of governing the colonies.

Salutary Neglect allowed the government to concentrate on affairs in Europe. As long as the American Colonies continued to produce raw materials for British industries and to buy finished products from British merchants they were willing to look the other way — even if they had no choice but to do so.

Edmund Burke Refers to the Policy as Salutary Neglect

Salutary Neglect was not an official policy, so it was unwritten, but it was given a name on March 22, 1775, in a speech delivered to Parliament by Edmund Burke.

Burke was a vocal critic of Britain’s treatment of the American Colonies, especially its policy of levying taxes on them. He argued that “wise and salutary neglect” was significant to the economic success of the American Colonies. He wanted Parliament to repeal many of the laws that levied taxes on the colonies, and he supported taking measures to mend the strained relationship between Britain and the colonies.

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Unfortunately, Burke’s plea came too late. About a month later, on April 19, British troops fired on Americans at Lexington and Concord. The Americans retaliated and chased the British back to Boston. The Americans surrounded Boston and trapped the British forces on the peninsula.

Topics Related to Salutary Neglect

A Timeline of Salutary Neglect. Learn more about key events that affected the American Colonies and how Salutary Neglect was involved.

The Mercantile System in Colonial America. Learn about the economic theory that focused on the trading of goods as a means to create wealth.

The Intolerable Acts. In 1774, Parliament passed a series of laws to punish Boston and Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.

Benefits of Salutary Neglect in Britain’s Mercantile System

There were many benefits to both the American Colonies and Britain as a result of Salutary Neglect.

Salutary Neglect and British Mercantilism

The colonies were essential to Britain’s economic system, known as Mercantilism. Under this system, the colonies were vital for the raw materials they provided, like lumber and whale oil, for British manufacturers, and also as a market for British merchants to sell finished products to. As far as Britain was concerned, the American Colonies existed primarily for the economic benefit — the profit — of the Mother Country.

Salutary Neglect allowed colonial merchants to flourish, which also benefited British merchants. As Americans prospered, they were able to purchase more products from British merchants.

Under the Mercantile System, colonies were vital because they provided raw materials, like tobacco, to the Mother Country.

Salutary Neglect Helped Keep the Peace

The last thing Britain wanted was for the American Colonies to turn on it and side with the French, who held substantial territory to the north and west of the colonies.

Any uprisings were a serious concern and Britain wanted to avoid situations like Bacon’s Rebellion, which took place in Virginia from 1676–1677, or the Culpeper Rebellion, which took place in North Carolina in 1677.

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Although British troops were occasionally sent to North America, there was no standing army to deal with colonial unrest or conflicts with the French or Native Tribes. It was expensive to send troops to the colonies and simply more cost-effective to give the colonies a long leash and let them govern themselves and to conduct business — for the most part — as they saw fit.

The lack of customs officials in the colonies or a standing army made it difficult to enforce the laws, which tended to upset the colonists. Salutary Neglect eased tensions, which helped to keep the peace while both the American Colonies and the British Empire flourished.

Disadvantages of Salutary Neglect

There were some disadvantages to Britain’s policy of Salutary Neglect affected the American Colonies by creating an increased sense of independence from Britain. When Britain ended Salutary Neglect by enforcing the Molasses Act in 1763, it became one of the causes of the American Revolution.

How did the salutary neglect lead to the American Revolution?

Salutary neglect was a large contributing factor that led to the American Revolutionary War. Since the imperial authority did not assert the power that it had, the colonists were left to govern themselves. These essentially sovereign colonies soon became accustomed to the idea of self-control.

What was salutary neglect and why was it important?

Salutary neglect was an unofficial British policy of non-enforcement of trade regulations on their American colonies during the 17^th and 18^th centuries. The purpose was to maximize economic output amongst the colonists while maintain some form of control.