When Salutary Neglect happened, America’s markets became strong on its own by having sections of its colonies specialize in certain areas such as agriculture or fishing, and through smuggling, which is the action of trading illegally in unauthorized ports. America’s corn, according to Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense,” can “fetch its price in any market in Europe, and or imported goods must be paid for, buy them where we will” (Paine, document 1). This demonstrates that America can survive on its own and can find a way other trading partners other than England. This is another reason for the colonists to want to gain their independence as they felt that they could thrive and that a small island could not control the trading of a whole continent.
Ultimately, American colonists were justified in declaring independence for many reasons. England passed unfair laws as colonists had no representation in Parliament. Additionally, America can survive on its own through trading with other European markets. Of course, gaining independence may cause despair and bloodshed, but perhaps Great Britain and the colonists could have compromised to avoid conflicts. Great Britain faced problems in controlling the colonists since the Atlantic Ocean separated these two, so perhaps independence is the best idea to avoid more revolts and