Development of American Society

Great Britain’s policy of salutary neglect, a “hands-off” policy, had profound impacts on American society. Many England citizens opposed the policy, wishing for the New World to be under complete English control. The salutary neglect policy forced America, a new and raw nation, to establish itself prior to 1750. Britain’s policy of salutary neglect encouraged new democracy, increased growth of the commerce, and expanded the number of religions in American society. Legislation in the New World started to take form once Britain implemented the salutary neglect policy. Seeking freedom from the English monarchy and the Parliament, the colonists fled to America. Here, a new type of government was to begin. The colonists drew up their claims to traditional English rights and insisted on creating their own forms of representative assemblies. Through the various town meetings and town officials in New England to the creation of a legislative body and appointed governors in Virginia, a new democracy was formed. In 1619, Virginia created the House of Burgesses, which included elected representatives called Burgesses. This set the precedent for other colonies who demanded its own legislature in turn.
One year later, in 1620, the pilgrims aboard the Mayflower signed the Mayflower compact. This compact pledged the pilgrims to make decisions at the will of the majority. This was considered one of the first forms of colonial self-government, and was the first written constitution in America. If Britain had not imposed the policy of salutary neglect, the colonies would have been under the complete control of England. A new form of democracy was formed at the hands of the salutary neglect policy. The commerce and industry in American economics was another thriving point. During the Glorious Revolution in 1688, England was experiencing economic hardship. Throughout the 1600s, the economy in America was thriving however. By 1612, the production of tobacco allowed the